Navy refuses land for upgradation of Goa airport: Minister

Indian Navy has refused to give 51 acres of land sought by Airports Authority of India for upgradation of Dabolim Airport at Goa, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told Rajya Sabha today.

Indian Navy has refused to give 51 acres of land sought by Airports Authority of India for upgradation of Dabolim Airport at Goa, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told Rajya Sabha today.

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Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, he said AAI has sought 7.5 acres of additional land for extending the apron at the airport.

While the Indian Navy had in past given 31.946 acres to AAI, 2.52 acres out of 8.77 acres given by state government
was being disputed by the Indian Navy, he said.

"Indian Navy has claimed that this 2.52 acres of the land which has been given to AAI by the Goa government belongs to
Indian Navy and not to the state government," he said.

Patel said tender process for upgradation of Dabolim airport was underway and would be completed by end-May
following which physical construction will start.

A second airport at Goa, which Patel said he personally felt was needed, has to be piloted by the state government.

The Minister said the Government does not decide on the routes of public sector or private carriers and it was purely
a commercial decision of the airline.

Presently, international flights to Dubai, Muscat and Sharjah, besides 19 domestic flights, operate from Jaipur, he
said adding there was no plans before Air India to introduce more international flights from Jaipur.