VASCO
Goa International Airport Director Gagan Malik, who has been promoted as Airports Authority of India (AAI) general manager and posted to the Pune Airport Project, has said that many facilities and infrastructure had been added during his five-year tenure as airport director in the State.
"I have been given a very challenging task at the Pune terminal building project because Pune also is a civil enclave and faces hassles of space constraints," said Malik, while speaking to reporters just before leaving Goa on Monday.
Recalling fond memories of his tenure in the State, Malik said he was posted in Goa as project head and had been given the responsibility of a parallel taxi track and apron extension.
"These were completed within time helping us increase our capacity and by the time this project was over, I was appointed airport director. When I look back at those five years, I feel very satisfied because we have made a lot of changes and improvements at Goa Airport and worked very hard for upgradation of passenge facilitation.”
COVID CHALLENGES
Malik said Goa Airport had gone through difficult times during the Covid pandemic.
“There was panic as the pandemic swept in, with reduced international and domestic footfalls and finally closure of all domestic and international flights. However, Goa airport was operational during that time as well because we got in Goan seafarers by chartered flights from epicentres of the pandemic like Italy, Brazil.”
“All our people worked with the State government and health department officials and managed the situation. Revenues went to zero with no flights and very slowly, flight operations resumed but different Covid waves affected our business, and vendors also were reluctant to work, but we still managed the show. Despite these tough times, we never removed anyone from their jobs.”
“Goa airport has come back to a profitable condition and we did every bit for Goans, tourists, the State economy and always put our best foot forward.”
INFRASTRUCTURE, OPERATIONS
The airport director said the multi-level car parking has been given clearance and the facility will begin operation when there is additional manpower with the CISF.
“We have also made another parking facility for passengers and even renovation of toilets. Goa is presently the seventh busiest airport in India today and the third busiest airport of AAI after Chennai and Calcutta," said Malik.
"We have achieved a milestone of around 102 scheduled departures with eight non-scheduled operations on the same day, which has never happened in the history of Goa. I hope the new incumbent breaks this record and manages more flights from these airports.”
“Secondly, we have to take care of the community which has been supporting us and has been with us in thick and thin. I wish residential buildings for AAI staff could have been put to use and urge authorities to ensure the project completed by us is given due and timely clearances so that our asset is put to use and reduces the trouble faced by our staff on rental accommodation," said Malik.
