Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the international airport at Mopa in north Goa on Sunday which has been named after late Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. 

“The state-of-the-art airport in Mopa will significantly improve connectivity as well as boost tourism in Goa. Manohar Parrikar International Airport is proof of the changed government thinking and approach towards infrastructure in the country today. We took the initiative to take air travel to the smallest cities in the country,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of the airport in November 2016.

The airport at Mopa in north Goa, being built at a cost of Rs 2,870 crore, is the second airport in the state. The airport has the capacity to handle 44 lakh passengers a year in the first phase which will go up to one crore passengers a year after the project is completed. It will also handle the transportation of cargo which will boost the local economy.

Goa’s existing Dabolim airport, which is also used by the Indian Navy, has a capacity to handle 85 lakh passengers a year. However, the airport does not have a facility for transporting cargo.

GMR Goa International Airport Limited said the facility will boost the socio-economic development of the state.

The company said 3-D monolithic precast technology has been used for the construction of an aviation skill development centre and a police station.

“5G compatible IT infrastructure has been created for better connectivity and there is option for self-baggage drop for faster check-in,” it added,