Delay in Mopa airport commissioning costs Rs 15 lakh loss a day to Goa govt.:Parrikar

PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today said that the delay in the commissioning of Mopa greenfield airport in North Goa, will cost the state a revenue loss of Rs 15 lakh per day.

The first phase of Mopa airport is expected to be commissioned in 2020. GMR Goa International Airport company has bagged the contract for the facility. The GMR Group has pledged 36.99 percent revenue sharing with the state government after the airport becomes operational.

"Once the airport is commissioned, the state will earn a revenue of Rs 15 lakh per day for initial days as per the shareholding of 36.99 percent worked with the company, which will operate the airport," Parrikar said."However, Rs 15 lakh per day would be lost by the state, if the construction of the facility is delayed. The state will gain if the airport is commissioned faster," he added.

Talking about the rehabilitation of fourteen families of 'dhangar' community, who will be displaced once the airport is constructed, Parrikar said the government has approved a rehabilitation package for such families."The government will also provide a community centre and other facilities to them," he said.