In HERALD, VM De Malar wrote an op-ed piece titled "SEZ spells infrastructure" on July 5. In it he said "We're a tiny state and all of our infrastructure needs could be met in five years if the will can be mustered".
Let's just take a tiny part of our "tiny state" and let's generously extend the 5 years to 7 (which is what London will take to get ready for the 2012 Olympics). Let's talk about attracting scheduled international services (not just chartered flights), shuttle domestic flights and import export cargo to Dabolim airport. Also container and cruise shipping at Mormugao harbour and efficient container handling at Vasco railway yard in coordination with the harbour. How long do you suppose it will take the Goa government to initiate talks with the centre to upgrade and integrate all three facilities to world class standards (together with world class security against terrorist attack)? One year? Five years? For ever? Close on the heels of this focused infrastructure requirement would be the need for the fourlane north-south highway (with connectivity to the Dabolim/Vasco/Mormuga complex). And finally the evolution of Mopa airport as a top domestic facility. Infrastructure of a tiny state is not so tiny, ok? And let's not be fooled into thinking of "IFFI in a Jiffy" style of third rate infrastructure planning and construction ever again!