Goa: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to inaugurate the Mopa International Airport in Goa on Sunday, official sources said the number of operational airports in the country has almost doubled from 74 to over 140 since he took over in 2014.
According to an official release, the PM will address his first function in Goa at around 3:15pm on Saturday where he will address the valedictory function of the 9th World Ayurveda Congress and later, at around 5:15pm, he will inaugurate the Mopa International Airport.
“It has been the constant endeavour of the PM to provide world-class infrastructure and transport facilities across the country. In yet another step towards this, the PM will inaugurate the Mopa International Airport, Goa,” the statement said.
According to the government, phase I of the airport will cater to around 4.4 million passengers per annum (MPPA), which can be expanded to a saturation capacity of 33 MPPA. The airport will also boost the socioeconomic development of the State and serve the needs of the tourism industry.
It has the potential of serving as a key logistics hub, directly connecting many domestic and international destinations, an official said.
Developed at a cost of around ₹2,870 crores, the airport has been built on the theme of sustainable infrastructure and has a solar power plant, green buildings, LED lights on the runway, rainwater harvesting, state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant with recycling facilities, among other such facilities.
The airport was tendered in 2014, was awarded in 2016 and the foundation stone was laid on November 13, 2016, by Prime Minister Modi.
GMR Infrastructure won the bid to build, operate and transfer the airport after promising to share 36.99% of the operating profit with the state government. GMR Infra will secure concession rights for 40 years plus 20 years an optional addition. It will also be Goa’s first cargo-carrying airport.
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