Mopa International Airport is a greenfield airport currently under construction in Goa, India. The airport will be located in the northern part of Goa, approximately 35km away from Panaji, the capital city of Goa.
Goa is currently served by Dabolim International Airport, which has the capacity to handle four million passengers a year. Dabolim airport shares its facilities with the Indian Navy, which restricts the hours of commercial operations leading to airside congestion during peak hours.
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The new airport will relieve the burden on the existing airport while meeting the growing domestic and international passenger demand.
It is also anticipated to boost the tourism industry in Goa and socio-economic development in the region.
Mopa international airport development details
The Mopa international airport is being developed by the Government of Goa and GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL) under a public-private partnership (PPP).
The airport is being developed in four phases, with the first phase designed to accommodate approximately 4.4 million passengers a year. The passenger handling capacity will be gradually increased to 5.8 in the second phase and then to 9.4 million in the third phase.
The phased development will involve the continuous expansion of terminal, commercial and cargo aprons, taxiways, and aviation facilities. The airport will be able to handle 13.1 million passengers a year upon completion of the fourth and final phase by 2045.
The project received approval from the state government in May 2014, while the foundation stone for the construction was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2016.
Pre-construction activities are currently underway and the first phase is expected to commence operations by May 2020.
Development financing
The development of Mopa International Airport is estimated to involve an investment of approximately $500m.
GGIAL signed an agreement with Axis Bank for a long-term debt facility worth approximately $20m to fund the construction of the airport in July 2017.
Details of the passenger terminal of Mopa International Airport
The airport will feature a single international terminal building, which will be designed as a simple structure resembling local architecture and Indian craft.
The terminal will extend over an area of 700,000ft² and will offer the capacity to process approximately 1,000 inbound and outbound passengers an hour during peak hours.
Airside facilities
The airport will feature a single runway (09/27), which will be 3,750m-long and 60m-wide. The runway is designed with the capacity to accommodate a Boeing 777-200.
The runway will have two rapid exit ways interconnected with taxiways. The taxiway will be 3,750m-long and 25m-wide.
The phase one development also includes construction of a commercial aircraft parking apron with an area of 114,000m². The apron will be equipped with remote aircraft stands, service roads and aircraft maintenance technical kits.
The cargo apron will be built with a capacity to hold a freighter aircraft and will be served by ramp vehicles to quickly unload the cargo.
Two hangars will be built across a 2,500m² area for general aviation purposes.
An air traffic control (ATC) tower will be built adjacent to the cargo area.
Contractors involved
GGIAL was awarded the 40-year design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) contract for the airport in August 2016. The company is a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure.
The agreement also includes an option to extend the period for an additional 20 years.
Megawide Construction Corporation was selected as the pre-qualified contractor for the airport project, in August 2017. Megawide will offer engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for cargo facilities, passenger terminal, ATC and associated buildings.
