PANAJI
The State government has assured the Legislative Assembly’s Assurance Committee that the user fee at Dabolim airport, which witnessed over 550 per cent jump in four years, will come down once the airport’s planned expansion is completed, amid the panel’s concern that escalating charges could make the airport economically unviable for passengers.
The Assurance Committee, headed by MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, while examining the issue of user fees at Dabolim and Manohar International Airport at Mopa, questioned the airport’s continued viability if the escalating charges were not addressed. The committee, in its report submitted to the House, has directed the government to monitor the user fees. “The Assurance Committee of the Goa Legislative Assembly, knowing that both the airports in Goa are important to its people, expresses their concern that with the escalating User Fees, the Dabolim Airport may become unviable for peoples use in the near future. However, it desires that the government monitor the user fees especially with the new expansion of Dabolim airport and reduce it for the benefit of the people,” the report stated.
The officials of Directorate of Airport explained to the committee that the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) follows a formula for determining airport tariffs, under which a larger user area results in lower user fees, while a smaller area leads to higher charges.
Officials informed the committee that Dabolim airport is being expanded and that the user fee will drop after the expansion. “The price variation between the two airports is due to the user area. Larger the area, the user fees are less and smaller the area, the user fees are more. The Dabolim airport having a smaller user area, (sq mts.) the User fees for passengers is high compared to Mopa which is a large airport. The Dabolim airport is being expanded and after that, the user fees will drop,” the report noted.
