Upcoming Mopa airport to have separate naval enclave: Parrikar

The proposed greenfield airport at Mopa in North Goa will have a separate Naval enclave for which five acres of land would be earmarked, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said.
In a letter written to Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on June 2, Parrikar said, "the provision of naval enclave is considered critical for naval aircraft operations. The proposed five-acre land for this purpose could be given on lease for the entire period of concession".
The foundation stone for the Greenfield airport is expected to be laid this year and first phase is likely to be commissioned in year 2019.

Parrikar said the proposed naval infrastructure would be created at the cost of Ministry of Defence with separate independent entry and exit to the naval facility.
However, he added, "the launch of military operational missions would take priority over normal operations in the case of emergency as declared by the Government of India.
"Operations from the proposed airport should at no stage interfere with search and rescue or other high priority military maritime air operations including coastal security operations planned from INS Hansa (the naval base in Vasco town)".
Parrikar further stated that "on a normal day, the military flying operations would be undertaken in the area North of Mopa Airfield beyond its central zone. There would be no effect on civil flying operations whilst military flying is being undertaken in this area".