Dabolim versus Mopa replacement airport. Dabolim airport was built around 1953, and is very basic. It is a runway and the terminal building does not have the capacity for enlargement. There is no amenities of any kind and there is no land around the airport for building, bunkering of fuel, and expansion of any kind is not practical. The noise pollution and the environmenthal pollution due to exhaust fumes from the aeroplanes can create a lot of health hazards.
Mopa can be developed into state of the art modern airport. The terminal building will have enough space and counters for all international airlines, office space for all the international airlines, a modern baggage handling system with at least 15 conveyor belts, relaxation place for passengers who are in transit like gym, sauna and playing facilities, an adjacent 5 star airport hotel for the airline crew and transit passangers, at least 60 immigration counters, aeroplane maintenace hangers, a fuel oil tank farm, Cargo handling system and so forth. There will be at least two runways about 3.8 kilometres long. Also the design of ground transportation system like trains, buses or ferries will have to be taken into consideration. With the new airport Goa will move forward. Politics aside and we have to move forward, that is what success is about. If Goa opposes a new airport, some other neighbouring state will be to happy to build one. That will slow the progress and prosperity of Goa. Tom de Sousa in Hong Kong.
