<The real problem is the commute from the city. But I believe that can't be held againstthe airport. Today, there is news that a six lane elevated highway isgoing to be built soon from Hebbal to the airport.> [Samir Kelekar]
Thanks, Samir, for sharing your personal experience with BIA. This is the first such report I personally have received! I am glad my purpose in stimulating a discussion has been served. Your comment above highlights the importance of viewing airport projects in an integrated way -- the airport proper as well as access by air and ground. In the case of BIA, once the decision was taken to close HAL when BIA opened, the latter could go full steam ahead without any concern for the ground access problem. In the case of Mopa, ground access can take its own time (as in Bangalore) if both airports can stay open. But this means Mopa has to start small and grow (unlike BIA which could go for a big bang or rather expansion on the trot which it is fumbling over). Maybe Mopa wont have to cope with the kind of expansion BIA has had to deal with. Tourism is not as much of a hot potato as IT. If ground access is handled 'properly' in Goa, then there is a real risk that Dabolim will close by default as airlines may relocate to Mopa! This is the kind of tricky situation Goa has to handle. And people have to think about it if politicians are not to gum things up with their vested interests and adopt a bull in a china shop approach.
