PANAJI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a new Greenfield International Airport in Mapa on August 15 next year, Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant said on Sunday.
“More than 35% of the work at the airport in Mapa is complete, and PM will inaugurate it on August 15, 2022,” Sawant said in his speech after lifting the flag at the old secretariat in Panaji.
The total project costs have reached Rs 2,615 Crore because of the problem of court and pandemic Covid-19, Sawant said.
The trade union government has told the highway 6.5 km to connect the MOPA airport to NH66, and that tender has been issued.
The state government will put the foundation stone for the road immediately, he said.
In 2018, the center has given the principle approval for the construction of a 8 km highway from Dhargalim to Varconda.
The new skill development center, which was built by GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL), which built a new airport, will operate from October and the registration for the center will begin from September.
GMR Airport Ltd., through a subsidiary of Ggial, is building Greenfield airport in the Mopa highlands in Pernem Taluka.
The first phase of the airport should be ready in March 2022.
In accordance with the concession agreement, Ggial will have the right to operate a business for 40 years, can be extended with another 20 years.
The airport project will be completed in four phases.
The second phase construction will begin only after 80% of passenger traffic is handled.
Meanwhile, Sawant said that to improve internet networks and voice connectivity, the state government has given permission to install 146 towers in the state.
The minister’s chairman said that the state government will start the Mission of Swachh Bharat Gramin in Goa from Sunday.
Sawant urges people to work together to make independent countries.