VASCO
The Airport Authority of India on Monday commissioned three new Passenger Boarding Bridges (aerobridges) at Dabolim airport.
With the commissioning of these aerobridges, all the eight parking bays at Dabolim airport will now be equipped with aerobridges, which will enable passengers to have direct access between the aircraft and the terminal building during arrival and departure.
South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar and Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho inaugurated the new aerobridges in the presence of South Goa Collector Anjali Sehrawat, Airport Director B C H Negi, members of the Airport Advisory Committee, officers from AAI, CISF, Immigration and Customs along with airline operators representatives.
Speaking on the occasion, Airport Director Negi said most international tourist chartered flights operating at Goa airport were using bigger aircraft, which could only be accommodated in Bay Nos 6 & 8, where aerobridge facilities were not available for the parking bays and as a result, chartered passengers were brought to the terminal building in coaches.
“With the commissioning of these new bridges, the facility will be extended to tourists arriving in bigger sized chartered flights like Boeing 747, Airbus 330 and Boeing 787 (Dreamliner). These new aerobridges are part of the comprehensive contract awarded by AAI Corporate Headquarters New Delhi for various airports in India to purchase 17 aerobridges,” said Negi.
“In addition to facilitating smooth passenger flow, installation of new aerobridges will improve safety in the apron area as airlines will not be required to use coaches for transporting passengers to/from aircraft, thereby reducing the number of vehicles operating in the operational area in vehicular movement, resulting in improved airside safety,” added Negi.
Negi further informed that AAI will also carry out modifications in the existing building and the work on parallel taxi track has begun to reduce flight delay in ground and air and also demolition of old terminal has begun to make way for three additional parking bays.
Negi requested the State government to look into issues like expediting the work on grade separator, beautification of airport junction and roads, setting up of dedicated police station, collection of waste and curbing of dog menace at the airport.
MP Sawaikar said various initiatives were taken by the central government under the scheme ‘Udaan’ to identify new airports and upgrade existing airports in the country.
“Sometimes, I also receive messages highlighting inconvenience caused to passengers and probably we realise only after the photos are uploaded on social media. However, the State government is also taking a lot of initiatives and efforts to reduce the inconveniences and resolve the issues plaguing the airport,” he added.
