India made every possible effort to improve 'Ease of Travel' for tourists: PM Modi

Prime Minister inaugurated the Mopa International Airport in Goa on Sunday. The airport has been named after former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The foundation stone of the airport was laid by PM Modi in November 2016. This will be the second airport in Goa, the first one being located at Dabolim.

Addressing the gathering here, PM Modi, "I am happy that this International Airport in Mopa, Goa has been named after Late Manohar Parrikar Ji. The approach towards creating infrastructure has changed, with this government. The airport launched today is a great example of this."

"Today, India has become the third-largest aviation market in the world. In the last eight years, India has made every possible effort to improve 'Ease of Travel' for tourists. We simplified the visa process. We have increased visa-on-arrival facility," he said.

PM said UDAN Yojana has revolutionised air connectivity across the country.

"We took the initiative to take air travel to the smallest cities of the country. We have expanded the airport network in the country and 72 airports have been built in the last eight years," added PM Modi.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "For the first time in the country, two airports have been established in a city. Under the previous government, not even a single airport was constructed in a year. Wherever there will be double engine government, development will happen."

Airlines like Indigo and GoFirst have already announced plans to launch 168 and 42 flights respectively from the new airport next month.

The new international airport is located in the northern part of Goa, about 35 km away from Panaji, the capital city of the state. Developed at a cost of around Rs 2,870 crore, the airport is built on the theme of sustainable infrastructure.

"The development of a Greenfield airport at Mopa, Goa is a prestigious project being developed by the State Government of Goa under public-private-partnership (PPP) mode at a revised sanctioned project cost of Rs 2,870 crore," an official statement from the government said.

The in-principle approval to Goa government for setting up a greenfield airport at Mopa village was granted by the Centre in March 2000.

According to official information, the airport is expected to promote the socio-economic development of the state and meet the needs of the tourism industry. It has the potential to serve as a major logistics hub, directly connecting several domestic and international destinations. Multi-modal connectivity is also planned for the airport.

"The existing airport at Goa, which is a Civil Enclave for which a terminal building is maintained by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), is a defence airport belonging to the Indian Navy. Goa's Dabolim airport will not be closed for civilian use even after the new international airport at Mopa becomes fully operational," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

Although Indian carriers had already announced their upcoming flight services to Goa's new airport MOPA, airlines like GoFirst and IndiGo will also start their services in January. (ANI)