Goa Chief Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar has said a new international airport at Mopa in the state will be ready in the next three years and the government will invite global bids to construct the facility by October.

“The Mopa airport may come up in three years. We may also float a global tender probably around September-October,” he said during an interaction with industrialists, organised by industry body CII, over the weekend.

The BJP Chief Minister, who took over the reins earlier this year, was earlier quoted as saying that the investment required for the new airport will be around Rs 3,800 crore, with phase-I requiring Rs 2,500 crore.

Mr Parrikar stressed that aviation is a key focus area for the tourism-driven state economy.

“I want to develop Goa as a hub for both cargo as well as passenger terminal,” he said.

He said that there are limitations with the present air infrastructure at Dabolim airport, where joint usage in coordination with the defence establishment creates problems for the civilian use.

Mr Parrikar said the proposed Mopa airport, for which up to 90 percent of land acquisition is complete, will increase passenger carrying capacity by up to six times from the existing facilities at Dabolim.

Addressing an audience consisting of industrialists from diverse sectors like realty, power, corporate finance and hospitality among others, he said his government will be interested in teaming up with private players if proposals come along in the aviation sector and setting up cargo facilities.

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