KICK START http://www.expresstravelandtourism.com/200504/spotlight03.shtml
Civil Aviation In India - The Way Ahead <In the area of airport infrastructure, the amendment of Airports Authority of India Act heralded a new era as it permitted Greenfield airports to be set up in private sector and existing airports of Airports Authority to be given on long-term lease. Work has already started on new airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad and **plans are afoot for airports in Goa and Pune.**> ....... PROBLEM IN A NUTSHELL 1. Mopa will remain in limbo as long as Dabolim remains in limbo. Civil aviation must not unilaterally withdraw from Dabolim for the sake of Mopa. 2. Dabolim will remain in limbo as long as Seabird/Yenkebe remains a black box (shrouded in secrecy). The latter must take at least some if not all of the military load off Dabolim. 3. As long as Dabolim and Mopa are in limbo Goa's socioeconomic potential in the era of globalisation and Indian aviation liberalisation will reman unfulfilled. As a tourist attraction with a relatively well off populace that is, however, isolated by rugged terrain, Goa has to give the required priority to civil aviation (airports and airlines) and mobilise public opinion for this purpose. THE WAY FORWARD Hopefully the collective wisdom of Goanetters (local and overseas) will provide useful guidelines to the media and to policy in the foregoing area(s). -------
