ICAO presents feasibility report on Mopa airport

10 million passenger traffic projected by 2035

The Canada-based International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN body on civil aviation matters and consultant for the proposed Mopa International Airport project in Goa, has submitted its techno-economic feasibility report by projecting air traffic of 10 million passengers by 2035.

The feasibility report was discussed at the steering committee meeting on the Mopa International Airport, chaired by the chief minister Pratapsingh Rane at the secretariat in Porvorim.

The modifications to the report are mainly pertaining to the projections of air traffic. It is estimated that by 2035, the traffic would touch 10 million. With additional suggestions coming in, the report will take quite a few days before it is finalised.

"Only after the report is finalised, the ICAO will start drawing up tender document followed by the steering committee scrutinising the tender document, which may be push it to November end," sources in the state secretariat said.

Sources observed that with the presentation of the report, the feasibility of the project had been established though with minor modifications on projected passenger and cargo traffic through the proposed airport.

"The government had asked the consultant to prepare tender documents, which would be submitted by November. The estimated cost of the proposed airport has been put at $200 million. The government's share in the project is yet to be decided and this might be done after the response to the tenders are received," sources said.

According to the Union government policy, the government's equity has been fixed at 26 per cent, which can be shared by both the state and the central governments.