PANAJI
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has come down heavily on the GMR, accusing them of using pressure tactics at the Centre to redirect flights from Dabolim airport to the Manohar International Airport (MIA), Mopa.
Without any hesitation, the minister warned the GMR to stop its “unethical ways” of operations while assuring the State that “Dabolim is here to stay.”
“I am specifically saying that GMR is pressurising certain people at different levels, even the Centre level, to divert flights to MIA so that they continue their operations. They want to indirectly kill Dabolim which I won’t allow it to happen at any cost. Dabolim is here to stay,” he said.
The minister was replying to media queries about apprehensions surrounding the continued operations of Dabolim airport after Qatar Airways announced shifting to MIA.
Godinho asserted that the development won’t affect Dabolim. “It will not shut Dabolim. I won’t allow it to happen,” he added with a quick warning to the GMR, “They should stop resorting to unethical ways to try shutting down Dabolim for their own interest, or else there are other ways where we can ensure Dabolim survives.”
Asked about opposition parties’ criticising the diverting of flights to MIA, he stated these were election stunts.
