Booster for tourism
PANAJI
In a bid to give fillip to tourism activities in Goa, the State government has constructed three helipads at Sinquerim, Candolim and one at Old Goa.
Replying to a question tabled by Curtorim MLA Aleixo Lourenco, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte told the House that “steps were taken by the government to create additional infrastructure for tourism activities by constructing helipads at important locations and that three helicopter services are presently in operation.
Admitting that all three helipads are in the North Goa, the minister stated that is no proposal to construct helipads in central locations of the State including its distant talukas, to allow tourists and visitors reach faster and conveniently to far-flung exotic places in Goa.
Khaunte also disclosed that “additionally, the tourism department had issued permission to M/s Flyblade (India) Pvt Ltd, Gurugram and M/s Air Mauryan Services Pvt Ltd, Noida for operating heli-tourism, helicopter joy rides at the helipads in Aguada”.
The government has appointed M/s Soaring Aerospace Pvt Ltd, Gurgaon towards operations, management and maintenance of the helipad at Ella (Old Goa) in Tiswadi.
No takers for criti-care services
PANAJI
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has disclosed that there are no helipads in the State where people requiring medical intervention can be rushed to hospitals. He, however, said a proposal for a helipad at Goa Medical College is with the government for consideration.
Replying to a question tabled by Curtorim MLA Aleixo Lourenco, Rane said in terms of infrastructure, there is no sufficient land around the district hospitals for building helipads and that both hospitals have several underground and above ground installations around them.
“Hence, there are no helipads existing in the State to rush people requiring emergency medical intervention,” he said.
Rane further told the House that presently there are no proposals with the government to get helipads constructed at central locations of the State especially in distant talukas to rush people requiring emergency medical emergency even to hospitals in Mumbai.
The Curtorim MLA had sought answers on the steps taken for additional infrastructure in terms of construction of helipads at important locations including GMC, the two district hospitals, and other central places of the State since May 20, 2022 when three helicopter services were launched in Goa by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
The MLA also asked for the number of helipads existing in the State to cater to people requiring emergency medical help and whether these helipads exists in both the districts of the State – North and South.
