There is a growing unease among passengers and transport operators who feel sidelined as Mopa Airport steadily absorbs international and domestic traffic, despite repeated government assurances that Dabolim will continue to function. The reality on the ground tells a different story from official statements. International carriers have already shifted operations to Mopa, and domestic routes are being selectively diverted. Taxi operators”who form the backbone of Goa’s tourism economy”are left stranded, while passengers face longer commutes and higher costs. The promise of “coexistence” between Dabolim and Mopa rings hollow when one airport is clearly being starved of traffic. Dabolim’s history adds another layer of irony. Once a naval airstrip under Portuguese rule, it was handed over after liberation in 1961. Goa under Salazar was a fortified enclave, with vast tracts of land”including Aquem’s military camp and the NOFRA base”commandeered for defense. Post-liberation, India’s democratic government acquired leftover Portuguese properties, but instead of converting these strategic assets into civilian infrastructure, the state has now allowed Mopa to emerge as the dominant commercial hub, eclipsing Dabolim’s dual role as both civilian and defence airport.
