Even as the Mopa v/s Dabolim debate gains steam in political and media circles, the decks are getting cleared for full-fledged take off for operations for the greenfield international airport a fortnight ago the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) granted the quintessential “consent to operate”.
GSPCB gave its nod for granting the “consent to operate” to GMR Goa International Airport Limited, Mopa, in its Board meeting held on October 11. The clearance is for Airport (Operation and Maintenance), including the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB), Air Traffic Control Technical Building (ATC TB), Administration Building, Cargo and Utility Building, buildings in airside among others.
A team of the GSPCB also visited the site of the greenfield airport and inspected the working of the equipment at the airport related to noise monitoring and the waste and waste water disposal.
The greenfield airport which is built by the Concessionaire GMR on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) PPP model, is expected to go operational within the current calendar year.
It is being constructed in four phases and the first phase is almost complete with minor operational loose ends left to be tied.
Firming up a date for formally throwing operations open will depend on availability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is slated to inaugurate it.
An A-320 aircraft of the commercial carrier IndiGo Airlines had recently test landed and taken off from there being part of its navigation system testing. The aircraft which landed there had taken off from Mumbai and airport officials claimed it was successful.
