PANAJI
Union Minister S P Singh Baghel who is on a State visit to inspect ongoing projects stated that Mopa airport will accelerate the tourist inflow resulting in the rise of current businesses including a ‘paan ki dukan’ to casinos, hotels, taxis, malls and shopping centres.
Stating that the Mopa international airport was essential for the growth of businesses in Goa, Baghel opined, “Mopa airport will not only serve the State, but the entire country will benefit from it.”
Baghel, who had visited South Goa’s projects a day before, stated that as the Union government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is completing eight years, the union ministers have been asked to visit different States to have a look at the status of the ongoing projects and take a note of the expected period of their completion.
Goa’s current Dabolim airport belongs to the Defence and had its own limitations and conditions, pointed out Baghel.
Baghel said people from across the globe who come to India with the sole intention of tourism, mainly go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and then come to Goa for sure.
“The Mopa airport will connect Goa to the rest of India and people will flock in from every district of the country, and international tourists will also fly here. There will be chartered flights coming in. This access flow of tourists will increase the tourism-related activities in the State. As Goa’s economy is dependent on tourism, the allied business activities will also grow multi-fold and thus bring in a lot of revenue to the State,” he said.
Pointing out that the income of small and big businesses will grow eventually -- from a small vendor who sells paan to taxi drivers, casinos, shopping centres, malls and cinema halls -- all will flourish and the number of tourists will go to crores, Baghel hoped Mopa will prove to be a profitable venture and the State government will benefit from it in the long run.
Locals should get jobs on priority: Shripad
PANAJI:
Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik, who was on a survey of the Mopa International airport project with the Union Minister S P Singh Baghel, stated that currently, the Centre has asked its ministers to visit different States and inspect the ongoing projects.
“After the visit, there will be a discussion on the projects that have been surveyed,” said Naik.
Commenting on a query if locals would be getting jobs at the Mopa airport project and if the compensation for their land will be distributed in time, Naik stated that the Goa government will look into these matters.
“Locals should get jobs on a priority basis and the State government will see to it that maximum benefit goes to the locals.”
Naik and Baghel visited the All India Institute of Ayurveda too, earlier in the day, and in that context, Naik disclosed that there is already an agreement of this institute with the government that 80% of the jobs would go to Goans.
Regarding the opening of the Mopa airport, Naik said though the date has been fixed as August 15 for the PM to inaugurate the project, it may fluctuate.
“The runway is already ready and the construction work is underway, but temporarily, if the date is fixed as August 15, we will do the inauguration on that day,” assured the minister.
