<Philip Thomas: There are several points on which one can take up cudgels with the civil aviation minister. First, it is misleading for him to say that no land is available for airports within 15 km of city centres. Maybe not for a "new" airport. But why close an old airport which is central? Then there is the point about viablity of two airports. If you start off with a Taj Mahal and add connecting infrastructure (like sea links etc) then the first airport is bound to make the second one unviable. Why not turn the problem on its head? Start off small at the new airport (even if the land earmarked is for a 50 year horizon) and expand/upgrade as you go along in conjunction with the old one. It is time we gave this model a try after the fiascos of Hyderabad and Bangalore. Finally, an airport is not just an economic package as we are told ad nauseam. It reflects vital social and political factors as well. It is myopic to judge an airport project solely on economic grounds. Speaking of the latter, it was surprising/scandalous to learn from RK Mishra that the payback period of these projects may be only a few years instead of the long terms expected for infrastructure projects. Besides, as Capt Gopinath subtly warned, no one can expect gauranteed profits nowadays (as airport developers seem to be expecting and getting via government's "contractual obligations"). This brings me to a final point. The civil aviation minister's "strategy" clearly seems to be one of "privatisation of airports". This needs a rethink and a complete overhaul as it is anathema to a strategy of low cost aviation which is the country's urgent need. Maybe Lalu Prasad and Praful Patel should switch ministries. Seriously.> http://www.ibnlive.com/news/aero-dynamics-nation-wants-multiple-airports/622 60/comments.html
Goa may have the same problem with Dabolim and Mopa unless the people are vigilant and take steps to shape the direction in which things move. Btw, I had mentioned previously that Hyderabad Begumpet's IATA code HYD was transferred to the new airport at Shamshabad. What would happen when Mopa is built? Would Dabolim's code GOI be transferred to it (Mopa)? More intriguingly, what if Goa agreed to have the airport in Sindhudurg instead of Mopa? Would GOI be allotted to the Maharashrta airport? Worth pondering, right? Dabolim civil enclave must never close and Mopa/Sindhudurg must get their own IATA code!
