GOA: Pramod Sawant, the chief minister of Goa, stated on Monday that many countries were waiting to sign a contract with the state to operate their flights here, but that would not be feasible until the greenfield airport at Mopa in the coastal state was put into service.

The Chief minister said in the Assembly that In the wake of the existing infrastructure at Goa's Dabolim airport, Goa has an agreement with only 18 countries. "There are many other countries that are waiting to sign an agreement with Goa. The state would be able to do it after the Mopa airport (in North Goa district) becomes operational," the chief minister said.

Only 70 flights, he said, are allowed to arrive at the Dabolim Airport each day since the airport forbids landings between the hours of 9 am and 2 pm. The CM predicted that 150 more planes will land in Goa once the Mopa airport is operational.

Earlier, Congress MLA Sankalp Amonkar brought up the subject during House Question Hour and expressed apprehension that the commissioning of the Mopa airport will lead to the closure of the Dabolim airport, which is located in the South Goa district.

The state government has provided a written guarantee that the Dabolim airport won't be closed following the opening of the Mopa airport. He said, the Mopa airport would open "anytime after August 15, 2022."  "Not every aeroplane will be diverted to Mopa, though. The aircraft will keep landing in Dabolim "he said.

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