Goa’s 2nd International Airport Inaugurated; Named After Late Manohar Parrikar

Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated Goa’s second international airport at Mopa, located about 35 km from Panaji.

The state-of-art airport, to be named after former Goa chief minister and Union Defence minister Late Manohar Parrikar, will promote local economy and boost tourism.

“In the last eight years, whenever I got the opportunity to come amid you, I always said that I will return your love with full interest. This airport is an attempt to return the love that I received from you. I am so happy that the airport is named after Goa ke ladle, late Manohar Parrikar,” Modi said.

Built at a cost of Rs 2,870 crore, the airport will begin operations from January 5.

IndiGo and GoFirst have already announced plans to launch 168 and 42 flights, respectively.

It will be IndiGo’s largest-ever new station launch and will immediately connect the new Goa airport to eight cities across India.

The foundation stone of the airport was laid by PM Modi in November 2016.

Goa’s first airport is located in Dabolim, 4 km from nearest city Vasco da Gama, 23 km from Margao, and about 30 km from Panaji.

A second airport was proposed and planned because of capacity constraints at the Dabolim Airport terminal and air traffic congestion because of a strong military and naval presence.