[Goanet] Dabolim Airport: Direct International Flights soon
* G * O * A * N * E * T C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S * Enjoy your holiday in Goa. Stay at THE GARCA BRANCA from November to May There is no better, value for money, guest house. Confirm your bookings early or miss-out Visit http://www.garcabranca.com for details/booking/confirmation. --- Dabolim Airport: Centre Agrees for direct Flights. -Dabolim Airport to be expanded very soon (Work starting from next week). -Indian Navy has agreed to provide nine acres of land for enhancing parking bays and constructing parallel taxiways there. -Dabolim Airport will have a new terminal on the northern side (may soon be knows as North and South Terminal as in London Gatwick etc) and will have four aerobridges and would be able to handle more aircraft simultaneously. -Dabolim received 690 charter flights last year and this year already touched 720. -Year 1995-96, a total of 8,824 flights received (Intl.+Domestic), the projected figures for the year 2013-14 is 22,288. -A housing colony close to the airport is also proposed to be shifted with the sate Government providing alternative site. -Present 4-5 aircraft parking bays would be expanded to house at least 10 planes- four A-320s and six ATRs. -Navy proposed that civilian air-traffic could freely operated between 6pm to 6am as they did not use airspace during that period. -Dabolim is the only way of entry by air to Goa and it will be upgraded into a first class airport- says Willy. -High paying tourists have asked for direct flights. The Minister has also agreed that not only charter but also scheduled flights be permitted at Dabolim. -Willy also informed that an additional Sharjah-Goa flight will soon be introduced. - Few Airlines have expressed interest to start flights to Goa. Among them are the Condor Airlines-Franlfurt-Goa, British Midland for a Manchester-Goa flight, Air Arabia, Virgin, Emirates etc (Source: Pick n mix GT/NT/H) [EMAIL PROTECTED] for Goa NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ Konkani Songs, Goan Photos, Tiatr/Film VCDs, Bank interest rates etc etc (for updates etc click below) http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/files/ Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com _ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport.
The following post ( part with link) appeared in Goan Voice U.K. Miss Dalal is a journalist, and has posted here just a few days back on Goanet! Good looker too! http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=73307 Good decision SUCHETA DALAL Posted online: Sunday, June 26, 2005 at 0101 hours IST Sucheta Dalal The Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna has done well in returning the Dance Bar ordinance and asking that a proper bill be introduced in the next session of the legislative assembly. It may well be that the Bill will be passed swiftly and without debate, but at least the law-making process will not be vitiated and bypassed by faking an emergency. Incidentally, the Governor has good reason to worry about the state getting him to promulgate hastily drafted ordinances. Just a few weeks ago, the Governor signed an ordinance amending section 10B of the Bombay Stamp Act. This, among other things, decreed that stock exchanges would have to collect stamp duty on behalf of traders, by deducting it directly from brokers' accounts. The high-handed promulgation was arrogating to Maharashtra the right to collect stamp duty from investors in other states, only because they were trading through electronic, national exchanges, which were headquartered here. The Governor was persuaded to ink the Ordinance, although extensive software changes required for electronic collection of stamp duty were not in place and the bourses had, in fact, expressed their inability to collect the duty. The Ordinance has led to angry complaints from neighbouring States on behalf of their investors. Clearly, this was another instance where there was no reason whatsoever to short-circuit the process of amending important legislation that has major revenue implications for ordinary citizens. Tourism Goa Aviation Minister Praful Patel recently spoke about the immense potential of India's airline industry as a large number of Indians begin to afford air travel. But airport infrastructure is in a mess and the privatisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports has hit an air pocket. Apart from the metros, one of the biggest magnets for Indian and international tourists is beautiful Goa. Did you know that Goa does not even have a civilian airport (despite landing so many international charters and domestic flights)? The Navy runs the airport and places a number of restrictions on its use. In fact, the Navy uses the airport to train pilots to fly the Sea Harriers and it will soon be training pilots for the MIG-29K's acquired along with a Russian aircraft carrier. The obvious question is, shouldn't the Goa airport be freed for civilians while Navy training is shifted to the mammoth Project Seabird at nearby Karwar? Instead of expanding the operations of Goa's Dabolim airport and providing it with world-class airport infrastructure, there is a plan to build an expensive second airport at Mopa, which is capable of landing the A380. This airport, if ever it materialises, will be costlier, closer to Maharashtra and waste well-located existing airport infrastructure; also, the South Goa hotel industry that has developed around it will lose some shine. On the other hand, thanks to a greenfield airport at Mopa politicians can profit hugely from land deals and granting of clearances to a whole new set of resorts that would develop around the new airport and in the Sindhudurg region of Maharshtra. Mere paas ma hai? Kokilaben Ambani has often been seen but never heard. The 10-month battle thrust her in the limelight, because of the public averment of her sons that she would decide how to split the business empire between them both. While the battle raged, Anil, Mukesh, their wives and aides took great pains not to antagonise her. And fittingly, it was she who announced the outline of the split. But what happens next? When Dhirubhai Ambani was alive, the family lived in an imposing apartment building in South Bombay called Sea Wind. But in the last two years, as the dispute between the brothers and their wives turned more acrimonious, both made plans to move out. Mukesh is already constructing a fabulously expensive building for himself at Tony Malabar Hill. While Anil, we learn, is in the process of renovating a fantastic bungalow that has always housed the chairman of BSES (now Reliance Energy) at Bandra. This will take him closer to his film industry friends. Kokilaben will actually have to choose to live with either of her sons, or as sources think is more likely, may prefer to stay alone at Sea Wind with the memories of her husband and her religious activities. Gold sale? Knowledgeable sources in the gold trade circuit are all agog these days about a steady supply of gold and silver, which they believe is coming from government mints at various locations. These sources say that the Reserve Bank has opened some of its gold lockers, including Mumbai and Kolkata (Fort Williams) for the first time in over 50 years. In some cases, they
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Development?
Check out this story from Business Standard. Is the plan for Goa (Dabolim) feasible? === 23 airports to lease real estate Two consortiums led by ernst young and UTI bank formed to prescribe use Bhupesh Bhandari Bipin Chandran / New Delhi December 23, 2004 The government will allow commercial utilisation of 'city-facing' land at 23 non-metro airports to generate funds for their growth. For this purpose, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has shortlisted two consortiums, one led by Ernst Young and the other by UTI Bank. The two consortiums are to come up with a detailed business plan for ten airports within the next four months, sources close to the development told Business Standard today. The AAI is expected to float another tender for the remaining 13 airports soon. The Ernst Young consortium, which includes IDBI Capital Markets, will study the Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Udaipur, Amritsar and Guwahati airports. The UTI Bank consortium will have consultancies like Chesterton Meghraj, Chesterton Petty, Landrum Brown and Meghraj Financial Services Ltd. This consortium will look at the Goa, Mangalore, Lucknow, Trivandrum and Madurai airports. Detailed plans for the Ahmedabad and Trivandrum airports will have to be submitted within a month as these are international airports. Although it is not clear how much money the government wants to mobilise through this exercise, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, has said that upgrading 23 airports could cost as much as Rs 5,000 crore. The consultants are required to figure out how the land owned by these airports could be commercially utilised. There are two components of the assignment: what can be done and how best to do it. In other words, we have to give the plans for the usage of the land and how to fund it, the sources said. Elaboratring the first component, the sources said various possibilities like setting up shopping malls, multiplexes and hotels could be explored. The consultants will also suggest whether the land-development exercise should be undertaken by the airports themselves in partnership with the private sector, or should the entire exercise be left to the private sector. Some of these airports are known to own 80-100 acres of land which can be developed for a range of commercial activities. Funding growth --- The two consortiums - one led by Ernst Young and the other by UTI Bank - are to come up with a detailed business plan for ten airports within the next four months The consultants are required to figure out how the land owned by the airports can be commercially utilised Various possibilities like setting up shopping malls, multiplexes and hotels can be explored The consultants will also suggest whether the land-development exercise should be undertaken by the airports themselves in partnership with the private sector, or should the entire exercise be left to the private sector The AAI is expected to float another tender for the remaining 13 airports soon ==
Re: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Ivar Fjeld [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Today, India receives only 10 per cent of the amount of tourist that's annually visits China. The Chinese has understood that mixing of military airports with civilian and commercial air traffic has its limitations. The solutions; China is in its final stages of building 90 (ninety) new international airports. Folks, Can anyone in India inform us on how many international airports there are in the country? Thanks Mervyn __ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Re: Bernado Colaco's and Ivar Fjeld's of Nov 24 A day after complaining that the media are neglecting Dabolim airport matters, I was virtually carpet bombed by articles in today's paper! One article spoke about Kerala's move to develop a fourth international standard airport. Another was about Jet bagging the award for Best Domestic Airline. The third article which was the most tantalising one was outwardly not about aviation at all. It was about Churchill Alemao's visit to Delhi on Nov 22 which he claims was solely to attend a meeting of the Defence Committee of which he is reportedly a member. Let's hope he got to follow up about his memo on Dabolim and that the results are disseminated one of these days in the press or Goanet. In the meantime I came across an issue of Business World magazine (Nov 22) which also has two articles about aviation. One of them talks about Air Sahara's radical plan to start a hub at Hyderabad beginning in 2005 to provide quick connections for passengers flying from North India to South India (including Goa). The other is about the travails of Bangalore's proposed international airport. The latter make one feel that Goa is still in with a chance of re-writing the prevailing rules of the airport development game by pushing for a joint management of Dabolim (along the lines of Honolulu) and a separate construction of Mopa. Finally, a few days ago I came across a report that Gujarat holds the record for the max number of airports (8) and it is anxious to convert one of the 7 into an international airport to complement Ahmedabad. So airport planning and development is in fashion. What is Goa doing about it? A million dollar question, right?
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Fellow netters. I am not an expert on aviation. I neither have much knowledge of the history of Dabolim Airport. But I am a frequent air traveler, and have received 30-40 persons who have come to Goa on charter flights from Europe. They have not been much impressed with the facilities. In the mid 90-ties, there was a large number of Germans among the charter tourists in Goa. The Germans were what we can call «high-end travelers«, with cash and willing to spend. The main German charter company was Condor, owned by the Lufthansa Group. I 1996 one on schedule incoming Condor flight to Goa was refused to land. The reason: The military commander of Dabolim was holding an exercise on the airstrip. Coming 7000 kilometers from overseas, the captain circled over the Airport, renewing his request for permission to land. The flight finally had to be diverted to Mumbai. The end of the story was that the Condor Management cancelled the whole winter program on Goa. This is not a military secret. Even some national newspapers covered this incident. Today, India receives only 10 per cent of the amount of tourist that's annually visits China. The Chinese has understood that mixing of military airports with civilian and commercial air traffic has its limitations. The solutions; China is in its final stages of building 90 (ninety) new international airports. Sincerely Yours Mr. Ivar Fjeld Ribandar __ Do you Yahoo!? Meet the all-new My Yahoo! - Try it today! http://my.yahoo.com
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RE: Ivar Fjeld's Letter of Introduction of Nov 23 This is just to decline with all modesty the credit given by Ivar Fjeld to me for introducing him to Goanet. But, yes, we did chat recently about Dabolim Airport and I did urge him to share his experience on Goanet where a discussion on the subject had begun lately. He was telling me how one of the pioneers of charter flights to Goa, Condor, discontinued its flights when in 1996 it was refused permission to land just because some training flights were underway. I do find that Dabolim matters get low priority in our media. For example the emergency experienced by an IA flight on Saturday is being reported in the press only today (four days later!) To Goanet's credit, it was reported herein on Monday I think. Also even under the best of circumstances (that is when IFFI is not an obsession!) our government does not seem to be paying any attention to the needs of the people for low cost air travel. It needs to work energetically to get everybody concerned around a table to talk directly to each other about their problems at Dabolim. Once these problems are understood clearly perhaps some earnest negotiations can begin to alleviate as many problems as possible.
Re: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Master Phil, Goanet is mostly dominated by mumbai and english africkanders and brazil. Most of their postings are for vanity. Important issues are swept under the carpet. B. Colaco Re: Gabriel de Figueiredo's of Nov 22 The challenge is to light a fire under the PEOPLE of Goa about this issue in the first instance. Only then will the leaders get into the act. Right now the prospects look pretty dim to me, at least on Goanet. Btw, is Churchill following up on his letter to the Defence Committee? Hope so. ___ Moving house? Beach bar in Thailand? New Wardrobe? Win £10k with Yahoo! Mail to make your dream a reality. Get Yahoo! Mail www.yahoo.co.uk/10k
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Re: Gabriel de Figueiredo's of Nov 22 The challenge is to light a fire under the PEOPLE of Goa about this issue in the first instance. Only then will the leaders get into the act. Right now the prospects look pretty dim to me, at least on Goanet. Btw, is Churchill following up on his letter to the Defence Committee? Hope so.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RE: Gilbert Menezes' of Nov 6 on the subject This is a a good intervention based on the emerging multi-airport perspective. Perhaps due to the newnesss of the concept, the picturisation of Seabird and Mopa is inadequate and the author has inadvertently ended up playing into the hands of vested interests (Navy and the south Goa hotel lobby) and pushing for the status quo at Dabolim. We will touch on Seabird and Mopa later but first a word about the motivation in the Navy to downsize in Mumbai and shift to Seabird. Two somewhat contradictory reasons are given. One is the congestion in Bombay harbour which is a good sign as far as Dabolim airport is concerned because the Navy does seem to respond to the build up of civilian needs and will hopefully see the handwriting on the wall there (at Dabolim) too. The other is to get out of the strike range of Pak aircraft which seems a bit defensive rather than strategic and not altogether flattering! However, it is unfortunate that Seabird is being portrayed as somewhat suboptimal (a glorified repair dock) and the airfield itself is almost an afterthought. Either this facility is being purposely downplayed to avoid the shift out of Dabolim or the Navy is constantly bungling its airport planning (perhaps due to its core competence being in naval rather than aerial warfare). As for Mopa, the author categorically states that it does not make any economic sense and that it will never see the light of day. What he has overlooked (or is actively preventing people from realising) is that economic viability may be just a matter of putting pen to paper and stopping civilian flights at Dabolim so that they have to use Mopa. Then what happens to the south Goa businesses which depend on Dabolim? No point in playing the ostrich. It is not just Kochi which has moved from a military controlled airfield to a greenfield international airport. Bangalore is also on the same track. The challenge for Goa is to somehow set a NEW precedent and have civilian flights continue and even expand at Dabolim --- even as Mopa is built up. The city of London has 5 airports! The reason is the global trend towards low cost domestic air travel which is defeated by costly new airports and excessive distance to/from business and other centres. The Bangalore experience needs close watching as more than any other Indian city it is emerging as a capital of low cost carrier Air Deccan (although Mumbai and Delhi benefit from apex type fares of all the majors). Will the Goan people demand a much better deal for civilian flights at Dabolim for the sake of low cost domestic air travel to and from Goa and see to it that their leaders take up the matter actively with central including defense authorities? That is the crux of the challenge which this issue poses. Let's hope the people of Goa take an enlightened and courageous stand.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Re: Frederick Noronha's of Nov 1 on the subject I dont think operational use and ownership position are two distinct issues. In fact I consider the latter to be fundamental and a pre-requisite for the former. Unfortunately, little or no information has been forthcoming so far about the true ownership and title position as compared to the functional position on which, by contrast, a fairly clear picture is now available from pre-liberation days right up to date. In these circumstances, the somewhat convoluted point that any characterisation as an apparent 'dog in the manger' policy is likely to run up against the usual 'holy cow' factor is well taken. In closing let me say categorically that I dont claim to have any solution to the Dabolim problem. In fact I dont think there can be a solution in the mathematical sense at all. All can only work conscientiously and persistently towards a policy which effectively balances Indian military security interests with economic and social security interests of the people of Goa and the region.
Re: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## The indian army in the 70´s was believed to have allowed the Soviets to trawl in Goa waters. I guess this is the national security for many a brain washed Goan! B. Colaço Is the response of our politicians so far been one that the military tends to be seen as a sacred cow, both in this country and in most parts of the globe, as we've also noticed after the Tehelka expose? FN ___ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
Re: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## On Wed, 27 Oct 2004, Philip Thomas wrote: This pervasive military picture is much more than what the Navy's public relations pieces in the media have led us to believe so far. To me there doesnt seem much scope for a winding down of the military presence at Dabolim Airport, Yenkebe/Seabird or no Yenkebe/Seabird. Aren't these two separate issues, which are getting mixed up -- the Navy's (Coast Guard, IAF etc) need and the actual ownership rights and history of Dabolim? Would one justify riding roughshod over the other? I don't think Philip Thomas is looking at the many dimensions involved in this issue, but in trying to see the practicality of what's involved, might be hurrying towards a solution that isn't really one. Is the response of our politicians so far been one that the military tends to be seen as a sacred cow, both in this country and in most parts of the globe, as we've also noticed after the Tehelka expose? FN
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Re: Gabriel de Figueredo's on the subject of Oct 29 1. Who will bell the cat? Since Churchill Alemao has already started the ball rolling on Sept 13, he should have first crack at getting the Dabolim issue to take off. Follow ups may be required at regular intervals (now may be as good a time as any for the first one) to ensure that the matter is actually taken up and some forward movement is registered in the foreseeable future. 2. I will eat my hat .. Let us cross the bridge when we come to it. In the meantime keep us posted via Goanet of any developments and if there is any need for filling up information gaps.
Re: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## 1. In the case of the Indian Navy what are the threat perceptions which make its continuation at Dabolim Airport and expansion in a southerly direction to Seabird imperative? 2. Why cant a joint use agreement which effectively balances the civilian and military needs be devised for Dabolim? 1. A very good question. Who will bell the cat? Will the Navy come up with a legitimate answer? As a parallel question, what makes it imperative for a large Army presence in Goa? Who pays / bears responsibility for the mishaps that occur / could occur between civilian traffic and L-plated or otherwise Army trucks? 2. If the Navy indeed condescends to do a deal with the Goan Govt (not with the authorities in Delhi), I'll eat my proverbial hat ... Cheers, Gabriel. Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. http://au.movies.yahoo.com
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## A. CHALLENGES OF LONG TERM RUNWAY PLANNING 1. Years ago when the Navy established an air base in Kochi it deposited its runway on an island. this topography rpoved a constraint to the civilian (that too international) aircraft which shared the facility. So a new airport was built 30 km away recently for civilian traffic. The latter has duly boomed to about 13 lakhs per annum in a short space of 4 years. In comparison Dabolim reached a figure of about 10 lakhs last year. This might be a measure of the pent up demand at Dabolim for civilian traffic especially if low cost air fares begin to apply to and from Dabolim. 2. A few years ago the Navy embarked on the establishment from scratch of a new base called Seabird at Karwar including an air station at nearby Yenkebe. But the new runway is deemed inadequate for the shift of the Navy's activities from Dabolim airport. A close look at the specs may be necessary to see where the mismatch between Navy aircraft and Yenkebe runway lies. B. INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS 1. The American base which included an airfield in Subic Bay in the Philippines was shut down in 1992 just a couple of years after the end of the cold war with the Soviet Union and China as it was deemed to have outlived its strategic purpose of containing communism. There had also been strong local opposition to the continued American military presence. In the case of the Indian Navy what are the threat perceptions which make its continuation at Dabolim Airport and expansion in a southerly direction to Seabird imperative? 2. At Honolulu in the American tourist paradise of Hawaii the Honolulu International Airport serving 20 million passengers a year co-exists with Hickam Air Force Base with assets valued at nearly $500M. The entire complex is considered an integrated facility and managed under a joint use agreement. There are no peacetime hassles between the military and civilian wings at a facility which was during WW II a key point in the American air bridge across the Pacific. Why cant a joint use agreement which effectively balances the civilian and military needs be devised for Dabolim? 2.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Re: Bosco's of Oct 27 on Dabolim etc. Regarding the question about Kochi Airport, my information is that this was intended to be a private airport but eventually became a public-private partnership. The plan to finance it via user participation flopped. So a public limited company was floated in March 1994 with 26% government holding with the rest in private hands and with institutions. The airport occupies 1330 acres of land 30 km from Kochi. The airport is now in its 5th year of operation and caters to 13 lakh passengers annually (vs 9 lakhs at Dabolim per latest data). Hope this information will be of interest. As regards Subic Bay naval airbase in Philippines which I had mentioned it was closed by the Americans within 2 years of the end of the Cold War with the Soviet Union and China. The base had simply outlived its startegic purpose of containing communism.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## AIRPORT SCENE GROWS CURIOUSER Thanks to a private update on the airport scene, the picture regarding the military use of Dabolim airport is getting a bit clearer. The Navy not only uses the airport for imparting basic/intermediate stage flight training to its pilots (for which morning hours are blocked for 4 out of 7 days in the week) but also for operations related to patrol aircraft and fighter aircraft. A variety of helicopters is also based at Dabolim. The Coast Guard uses the airport for small surveillance aircraft/helicopters. Now it seems the Indian Air Force also uses the place for exercises with its advanced aircraft. This pervasive military picture is much more than what the Navy's public relations pieces in the media have led us to believe so far. To me there doesnt seem much scope for a winding down of the military presence at Dabolim Airport, Yenkebe/Seabird or no Yenkebe/Seabird. Perhaps to the conrtrary. We may have to accept the growth of Mopa as inevitable much as Kochi went in for a greenfield civilian airport in the face of Navy's constraints. Which, if you ask me, is really a crying shame. The alternative is to check out international cases of the move of big military bases (Philippines?) out of their enclaves and see if one can build up a similar case here. Any takers?
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO SEB DC'S ON LIGHTER SIDE OF OCT 24 Seb seems frustrated by the slow progress towards a solution of the airport problem. He has proposed that we follow the KISS model which advises a focus on solutions (especiially the simple ones) instead of problems. To the best of my knowledge, so far there have only been one or two solutions (more like wishful thinking really) to the airport problem e.g. Problem: Navy; Solution: Move it out. Clearly we have not been able to develop a fairly complete inventory of problems associated with Dabolim Airport so far. Hence we are far from compiling a complete list of solutions from which we can sensibly choose the simplest ones to try and implement. When trying to follow attractive adages like KISS let us not end up inadvertently trivialising issues which have a long and sensitive history and have proved intractable for the past 10-12 years. Basically we have to avoid falling into the trap of ADD (attention deficit disorder) and probably go in for MAD (maximise attention to detail).
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO GILBERT MENEZES' OF OCT 24 ON HARRIERS I was glad to note that nearly all (but not all?) the Harrier crashes have been at sea from the decks of aircaft carriers and that you have written extensively about civilian crashes at Dabolim (including Harriers?) in Goanet. What is your brief assessment, if any, of the safety of Dabolim from the aeronautical standpoint? I look forward to familiarising myself with your previous postings in due course. Thanks.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO J.COLACO'S OF OCT 23 For his fascinating glimpses into Portuguese Goa's (international) civil aviation history one has to give the guy his due. I say Bravo! to that. But I am afraid his linguistic aerobatics might leave one unimpressed. :(
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO GILBERT MENEZES' ON SEA HARRIERS OF OCT 24 I disagree that the crashes of naval aircraft are not part of the Dabolim airport debate. They are tied to the integral issue of airport safety specially since so much incendiary stuff is stored all around and the place is heavily populated. The discomfort probably arises because it is as applicable to commercial flight operations as it is to naval flight operations.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## SECOND TAKE ON FRED NORONHA'S OF OCT 22 If one takes the position of Rear Admiral Sinha, then pre-Liberation Dabolim airfield is said to have had a runway of 7,800 feet and an old apron (military dispersal). A civil dispersal was constructed separately on the 15 acres given to AAI in 1966. This seems to weigh the issue down in favour of the Navy. But then who knows if there were absolutely no civil flights at Dabolim in Portuguese times? Did the ex-rulers and civilians only travel by military flights? What kind of planes used Dabolim in those days anyway? They would have had to be reasonably long range planes to cross the Arabian Sea non-stop. Why would any Dakotas or Viscounts want to operate in tiny Goa? Did any Boeing 707 jets ever make an appearance at Dabolim since they entered the aviation scene in the late 1950s?
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO FLOWER/DIANA'S OF OCT 22 This is an important observation which others have overlooked so far. How risky is Dabolim from a general aviation safety standpoint? How does it compare with other Indian and international airports in this regard? I would think that your observation is applicable to both military and commercial operations not just one or the other. Btw, I dont think the Navy flies any MIGs which you rightly observe have been accident prone. But we do need to know the airplane types on which it gives training at Dabolim. In this connnection, interestingly, the term which seems to be used repeatedly is military flight training which could mean that the other armed forces (and perhaps the Coast Guard) are also getting training at Dabolim!
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO FRED NORONHA'S OF OCT 22 Very many thanks for your encouraging words. It seems like the pre-Liberation usage of the airport which you are focusing on is still an open question. My (limited) information is simply that it was an airfield. Hope some respected historians in our midst will be able to shed more light on this important question. Regarding the pressure for civilian flights, while rummaging through the file I learned that the Navy first allocated 15 acres of airport land for civilian use in 1966 i.e. within 4 years of occupation. Probably this was in response to pressure for civilian flights. Subsequent transfers amounting to 10 acres were spread over a 32 year period i.e. till 1998. However, until the late 1980s there were only two civilian (IA?) flights per day -- to Mumbai and Kochi. Interestingly both these are important naval stations! So the mid-80s charters from Germany/UK may have expanded the civilian air route to Goa. Interestingly they seemed to follow in the wake of CHOGM in 1983 which, in turn, may have been the fall out of the hippie discovery of Goa in the late 1960s. During the inter-regnum, the Bombay to Goa overland scenario may have prevailed since the Konkan Railway began only in the late 80s early 90s. The relatively recent activity of the South Goa hoteliers lobby may have been primarily the result of the plan to build a new airport at Mopa. This would seem to have foreshadowed the pattern in Kochi where the civilian airport was shifted out of the naval base (due perhaps to runway limitations) to a new greenfield site. I personally feel this should not be allowed to happen in Dabolim. But then we have the irresistible force vs immovable object scenario to envisage.
Re: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Hi Philip, There seem to be two issues here: * Legal position of Dabolim (traditional ownership, whether this was changed at any point, if so when and how) * Current day requirements of the Indian Navy. Would you agree that both these are quite separate issues? Even if the Navy has a legitimate requirement, it would not justify taking over what was meant to be a civilian airport (assuming this is the case). While our British-legacy colonial time laws have stood post-1947 governments in good stead (the Railways Act gives the authorities virtually-unchallengeable powers), a strong case could be made out if it could be shown that Dabolim was infact a civilian airport. To be fair, I think this issue is being raised only in recent years, after the tourism lobby began feeling the pinch. Some may find it very easy to blame politicians (and even the Press) for any and every failing of today's Goa. But, I personally don't believe that civil society in this part of the world is active enough in shaping the issues that are of importance to Goa and her people. Thank you for the clarity you lend to this debate. FN On Fri, 22 Oct 2004, Philip Thomas wrote: RESPONSE TO FRED NORONHA'S OF OCT 21 I feel that what you call the case for placing economic and societal needs ahead of military assumptions might hinge on establishing that the Airport is being used for a non-unique though mission critical purpose. Military flight training sounds to me like such a purpose. It ought to be substituted by flight simulators and a different naval air base e.g Seabird. However, I have recently learned that the Coast Guard has also made Dabolim the base for its squadron! What is the link, if any, between the Navy and the Coast Guard, when did they move into Dabolim and on what terms? It should be clear that we are only concerned about Dabolim airport. Nobody is suggesting that the Navy move its ENTIRE base out of Vasco. As it is Dabolim airport is reputedly the Navy's largest (and perhaps the only?) airbase.
[Goanet]Dabolim airport, navy occupation, portuguese and the I-know-it-all patrakars
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Shri De Figueirado De Tavares, Esq. After any military 'conquest', there is always the rule of the traditional military - in modern times. Nothing special about it. Any history book, if read, will tell. No need to query on the forums. Could you comment on the following: -After the second world war Portugal came under the grip of a tyrant by the name of Antonio Oliveira Salazar. The affects of the tyranny were felt not only in Portugal but even in Goa. Many Goans got fed up with the Portugese and went into exile in Bombay and launched a Freedom movement. India was already fighting for its freedom from the British and thus they became allies. Many Goans Freedom fighters were imprisoned by the Portugese. In the meanwhile, India got its independence from the British. The Goan freedom struggle went on quite unnoticed. From 1950 onwards Goa was in relative peace. There were very few Portugese officials in Goa and most of the top administrators and senior officials were Goans. Goa was quite clean, cheap and very safe. Though Goa did not have electricity and proper roads, the standard of living of most Goans was very high. There was complete harmony among people of all religions and faiths. Employment opportunities were very limited. It was 1961 and the Congress government headed by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was almost heading for defeat in the upcoming general elections. Pandit Nehru was facing a lot of criticism for his policies on China and the massive failure of his 5 year plans. The Indian economy was stagnating and the people were dis-illusioned with the state of affairs. There were mass incursions from the Chinese Army on the Indian side. Despite all this, it was a time when the global status of India was held in high-esteem. Pandit Nehru on sensing his defeat in the upcoming elections decided to assert himself. On 3rd December, 1961 the Indian troops moved towards Goa. Dr. Salazar realizing the disparity between the Portugese forces and the Indian forces instructed the complete mining of Goa. But this was luckily prevented by timely intervention from the Portugese Governor of Goa and the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Goa. The Portugese surrendered on 19th December, 1961. Thousands of Goans came out in the open to welcome the Indian Army. Goa had finally been liberated or annexed by India. Subsequent events of looting shops and raping Goan women were all suppressed by the government. The Goans were extremely disenchanted by the actions of the Indian Armed forces. The fact that these crimes were committed by a force that had actually come to liberate the Goans was appalling. And more worse was the denials by the Government of India. A revelation that stunned the world was that Government of India had neither consulted the Goans or the freedom fighters before sending its forces and no goverment in exile had been formed. The United Nations refused to recognize the merger of Goa with India and it still considers it an act of annexation by India. Life became very expensive for the ordinary Goans as there were no subsidies like the ones given by the Portugese. Despite all this, the people of Goa had always wanted to be merged with India. Some critics argue that the Goans were not given a choice, while the defenders say that all princely states had an option of joining either India or Pakistan. And there is no way Goans would have chosen Pakistan over India. **But from my perspective the war for Goa was just an eye-wash for the the largely ignorant masses of the country who were swayed in euphoria and exhilaration. The Congress party went on it win the 1962 general election and the Goa strategy had paid off well for Pandit Nehru. Though it cannot be denied that the liberation and merger of Goa was the right thing to do from the Indian perspective BUT the motive was still quite unclear. Many political analyst often do the mistake of misinterpreting The Goan merger as a political stunt. Sure it was a political stunt by Panit Nehru to come back to power but the main intention of this act was not just garnering votes, it had larger international implications. The Goa liberation was a double-edged sword. A different kind of a strategic battle was being fought unknown to the Indian masses. Pandit Nehru after the sweet taste of sucess from the merger of Goa and a huge victory in the general elections was playing mind games on the international arena. He was more confident of his bigger challenge. Goa was just a confidence building measure but it had good ramifications for the Goans. Goa is today strongly an intrinsic part of the
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO FRED NORONHA'S OF OCT 21 I feel that what you call the case for placing economic and societal needs ahead of military assumptions might hinge on establishing that the Airport is being used for a non-unique though mission critical purpose. Military flight training sounds to me like such a purpose. It ought to be substituted by flight simulators and a different naval air base e.g Seabird. However, I have recently learned that the Coast Guard has also made Dabolim the base for its squadron! What is the link, if any, between the Navy and the Coast Guard, when did they move into Dabolim and on what terms? It should be clear that we are only concerned about Dabolim airport. Nobody is suggesting that the Navy move its ENTIRE base out of Vasco. As it is Dabolim airport is reputedly the Navy's largest (and perhaps the only?) airbase.
RE: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## From: Philip Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 10:25:32 +0530 RESPONSE TO DAVID FUTERS' OF OCT 21 Did the first charter flights (from Germany /UK etc) in the mid-80s come directly to Dabolim or end at Bombay? Thanks. CONDOR, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, incepted directly Munchen-Dablim. It was Fernando Peres da Costa's, a Lufthansa veteran, concept. He was the manager of the charter. AT _ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.com/
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO J.COLACO'S OF OCT 21 So the civilian flight pressure on Dabolim seems to be a fairly recent phenomenon -- about 10 years, maybe even less. According to my information the average influx in a year may be of the order of 15 planes per day. The Navy PRO has reported that there are 112 domestic and 28 international charters per week. Presumably the charters operate only during the tourist season. He also talks about private owned aircraft numbering about 15-20 but doesnt say whether this is just a registration figure or weekly flights or daily flights. Regarding your point about oxymorons, I would suggest that we should not be so defeatist. For the time being let us think about the effort being made and not the impact on the Navy. I would agree, however, that we are far from being the irresistible force that is meeting an immoveable object (an old oxymoron!).
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO DAVID FUTERS' OF OCT 21 Did the first charter flights (from Germany /UK etc) in the mid-80s come directly to Dabolim or end at Bombay? Thanks.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Discussion
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## If it helps I first visited Goa first in 1985 and had to travel by a Via Bombay from the UK. At that time a company called Condor was bringing flights in by charter from Germany. My first charter flight with Inspirations East a charter from the UK was in 1987 and I believe this was the first year of the charters from the UK Dave -- David Futers [EMAIL PROTECTED] Newbiggin by the Sea http://www.futers.org Northumberland NE64 6NL UNITED KINGDOM
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO FREDERICK NORONHA'S OF OCT 20 The main implication of your observation has to do with the basis of valuation of Dabolim Airport. This was recently placed by Goan Voices at Rs 25K crores that too as of 1996. If this is on a cash accounting basis then it works out to an average of nearly Rs 750 crores per year for 34 years (since 1962) or over Rs 2 crores per day during the entire period. Does this make sense? Alternatively it represents an estimated 'replacement value' based perhaps on the current (as of 1996) land value. Whatever it is it seems very high. A fresh attempt needs to be made to value the airport according to generally accepted accounting principles (i.e. double entry book-keeping). Comparison with other airports in India and abroad would also be useful. While on the subject of asset valuation, and considering that Dabolim Airport is used by the Navy purely for flight training purposes, one wonders whether the Navy has invested in flight simulators which are routinely used for training purposes abroad. This might obviate the need for 'live' practice take offs and landings at Dabolim which result in civilian flights being blocked out. such practice flights could then be shifted to Seabird/Yenkebe in due course. If the runway there is not long enough at present then the terrain could be levelled for this purpose on national security grounds. Hope the Navy has been thinking of these possibilities.
Re: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## I have been to an other conference in Delhi where the use the single entry system. Debit what comes in! B. Colaço I learnt at a conference in Bangalore that Indian governments do not follow the double-entry principle of book-keeping. If I understood it right, this means that while they know how much revenue and expenditure is expected in the year ahead, they wouldn't know what assets and liabilities have been created over a long period of time. Or even where their money has been spent. ___ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## DR J COLACO'S RESPONSE OF OCT 2 If the Navy did not display this intransigence wrt Civilian Flights - NOBODY would have bothered (very last line of posting) My question: WHEN did pressure begin to be applied on the Navy about civilian flights? Since 1962? Or since the late 80s early 90s? Any info about this history would be of interest. Thanks.
Re: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## On Wed, 20 Oct 2004, Philip Thomas wrote: Regarding your question , according to a press report in Goa Plus on Rear Admiral Sinha on July 16, 2004, the Dabolim airfield was apparently taken over by the Ministry of Defence after liberation and handed over to the Indian Navy in April 1962 'for its use and also acting as the custodian on behalf of the Government of India'. Hope this information will be of use. Look forward to your continuing interest and support. Very interesting. We seem to be getting closer to the issue. I learnt at a conference in Bangalore that Indian governments do not follow the double-entry principle of book-keeping. If I understood it right, this means that while they know how much revenue and expenditure is expected in the year ahead, they wouldn't know what assets and liabilities have been created over a long period of time. Or even where their money has been spent. Inspite of this, wouldn't there be some record of ownership of some agreement under which the airport was handed over? FN
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO Frederick Noronha: Thanks for getting my name right in the text! But the Prof bit is too much. Pls delete. Thanks. :) Regarding your question , according to a press report in Goa Plus on Rear Admiral Sinha on July 16, 2004, the Dabolim airfield was apparently taken over by the Ministry of Defence after liberation and handed over to the Indian Navy in April 1962 'for its use and also acting as the custodian on behalf of the Government of India'. Hope this information will be of use. Look forward to your continuing interest and support.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO DR. J COLACO Fyi, the original Goan Voices posting reads, in part: The Navy was more than willing to co-operate to aid the state with its tourism requirements, the Admiral said I presume this has to do with Dabolim Airport and not lifeguard duty etc! Glad you are still with us in the debate! Your inputs sure are fascinating.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## RESPONSE TO GABE MENEZES We have to take a holistic view of the aviation scenario and this therefore includes not only Dabolim but Seabird and Mopa also, maybe even Mumbai. The CM may have his personal priorities but it is up to us to make our views on the subject heard in the appropriate forums. Airports are too big and time consuming to be left to the free time of individuals however, high and mighty.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## From: Philip Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 9:05 AM Subject: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport debate it seems to me that if the AAI has to avoid interference with Navy flights and the Navy has to facilitate civilian flights then both sides are in a bind. RESPONSE: The present C.M. Manohar Parrikar, when he sets his mind on a project, he perseveres. It should not surprise Goans that this issue of landing disputes will continue with the Navy. The C.M. has chosen to build Mopa Air Port and this will happen, no matter how much opposition, the C.M. will prevail. Think of the baksheesh involved in this huge project which will also include highway roads avoiding the NH 17. Some are bound to be set up for life! Cheers, Gabe.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## Apropos Dr J. Colaco's posting of Oct 17, his funny dialogue about the missed flight at Mumbai seems to prove that the Navy is unable to ensure that civilian flights do not suffer as reportedly undertaken by Rear Admiral Mehta in 1996. Moreover, it seems to me that if the AAI has to avoid interference with Navy flights and the Navy has to facilitate civilian flights then both sides are in a bind. Somebody has to cut the Gordian knot. Good luck to us.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## As noted in the excerpt I had said Rs 25K crores which is 25,000 (twenty fove thousand) crores. This works out to approx $5 billion or thereabouts. If you are still having doubts, I suggest you use the figures in the original Goan Voices posting? Cheers. PS: I agree that $5 million is peanuts for any airport worth its salt!
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## From: Philip Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 6:06 AM Subject: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate 1) that the value of Dabolim Airport is of the order of Rs.25K crores i.e. $5 billion which seems extraordinarily high for a naval air station. A global comparison might be useful as a reality check, One Crore according to the dictionary is 10 million rupees. ( 100 Lakhs) X 25 makes it 250 mil. I dont think this equates to 5 billion usdollars. More like under 5 million usdollars which is really cheap for an Air Port! cheers, Gabe.
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Debate
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## The posting of Goan Voices dated Oct 17 on the subject is greatly appreciated. To me the interesting points it makes are to be found in the remarks attributed to Rear Admiral Mehta in 1996 at the end of the Goanet posting. These are: 1) that the value of Dabolim Airport is of the order of Rs.25K crores i.e. $5 billion which seems extraordinarily high for a naval air station. A global comparison might be useful as a reality check, 2) there have been discussions (or rather, monologues) on the subject with the Navy simply putting its foot down and refusing to budge. But no one has yet seen fit to ask any awkward questions persistently about the use of the facility by the Navy, 3) a lease agreement is mentioned against which some compensation has reportedly been paid. Apparently the civil aviation ministry has leased the airport to the ministry of defence. But what does this compensation consist of -- lumpsum or periodic -- and what are the other terms like duration etc apart from non-interference in naval flight operations, 4) the most interesting of the lot, the Rear Admiral's solemn assurance that the Navy would not allow Goa's tourist activities to suffer and, in the very next breath, his gratuitous advice to the state to steer clear of backpacker type tourists. This precisely is the crux of the problem. Is the Navy in Goa focusing on its national security mission or getting distracted by the onerous demands (perhaps including financial) of civilian flight imperatives? This is what future discussions should focus on. The options of Seabird for the Navy and Mopa for civilian purposes have also to be pursued simultaneously. The only difference being that the former would require the Navy to shift out of Dabolim but the latter would be in addition to Dabolim operations. In fact, I personally would hope that Dabolim would function as a purely domestic airport (for numerous low fare travellers) while Mopa could be purely an international airport. The 100km distance between the two would of course have to be bridged somehow with good ground and perhaps helicopter transport facilities. The excuse that runway length at Seabird would be inadequate due to topography should not be accepted. I have seen a small hill been demolished practically overnight in my backyard recently. In national security interests perhaps the topography of Karwar could also be modified sufficiently. Btw, is Seabird coming up on a war footing or at a snail's pace? More power to the voices for the Navy's shift out of Dabolim airport!
Re: [Goanet]Dabolim Airport Parliamentary Question
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## The Dabolim situation is imperalism of the 21st century by india. Just as the US holds Cuba by it throat with the economic blockade and its ideas of invading that country. B. Colaço A follow up to this response should consist of enquiring which of the airports listed, besides Dabolim, are controlled by the Navy. Perhaps Vishakhapatnam and possibly Jamnagar. Also what exactly is the Navy using the Dabolim airport for (subject of course to security considerations). ___ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport Parliamentary Question
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## A follow up to this response should consist of enquiring which of the airports listed, besides Dabolim, are controlled by the Navy. Perhaps Vishakhapatnam and possibly Jamnagar. Also what exactly is the Navy using the Dabolim airport for (subject of course to security considerations).
[Goanet]Dabolim Airport ( Aattracting World Class Tourists)
The Sorry State of Dabolim Airport. Just one example: Luggage Trolleys- When pushed left it goes right, when pushed straight it goes sideways- WELCOME TO GOA. 'First impression counts ? All trolleys should go to scrapyard. Top business houses like 5* hotels should come together to sponser (as it is done all over the world) From Today's Navhind Times by Abdul Rauf Beig Panaji Sept 22: Ever since the authorities decided that Goa should be the permanent venue for holding the International Film Festival of India, the tourism industry in the state is upbeat, and is seeing this as an event to further promote the state as a touristic destination with world class facilities. Many in the industry feel that infrastructure that would be built to hold the film festival here would provide the industry additional facilities, which are expected to be unique and among the best in the world, and would help attract top class tourists and reap the benefits thereof. The tourism industry people, however, want the state government to take initiative to build a convention centre at a centrally located place and also impress upon the central authorities on the need to have such a facility in the state as it would give multiplying results to the tourism industry. According to industry people, since the event is a high profile one with lot of hype and glamour, Goa would be the beneficiary of the worldwide publicity that is normally attached to such events, as normally festivals are named after the places that host the events and help their promotion directly. Those in tourism industry also feel that the multiplexes, theatres, and convention centre that would be built here to host the film festival should be put to use and not to leave them lie idle and daily events like stage shows depicting Goan and Indian history, on line with those done in Malaysia and Singapore, could be held. Holding of such events daily, coupled with daily musical and theatrical shows, exhibition of local crafts, would provide wholesome entertainment to the tourists which would help to maintain them and also earn revenue. These would also help artisans to exhibit their artistic skills, say the tourism people. Mr Ralph DSouza, group chairman of DSouza group of hotels, said that the state should encash the returns from media coverage attached to such events. He said that the state would benefit directly from the event and it would add to its economic progress. Besides, it would help the state add new attractions to its existing infrastructure. He also said that state could also derive incremental benefits from the event, like in the case of facilities created during Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) retreat in early 1980s. The event would prompt the state to upgrade the existing facilities. Mr DSouza further said that infrastructure set up for the event could be used for holding regional film festival and other such festivals alongwith theatre festival and exhibition of other forms of performing art. This would help the authorities not only upkeep the facilities but also bring down overhead costs and soar profits. The director of tourism, Mr N Suryanarayana, feels that holding of the film festival in Goa would introduce Goa to a newer class of people and help it more tourists than before and also help it in fortifying its economy. Besides, potential investors would be attracted to set up their projects here in the film of tourism, etc, for which there was vast potential. He feels that a convention centre was a must alongwith multiplexes and theatres and would be an added advantage and provide biggest boost for promotion of tourism. He further said that Goa has been participating in tourism mart at other places where convention centres were existing but has not been able to host any such event in absence of a convention centre. Mr Suryanarayana said that so far Goa has spent over Rs 3 crore by participating in tourism promotion events hosted by others and a convention centre would help it to host events such as Travel and Tourism Fair, Travel and Tourism Exposition, South Asian Travel and Tourism Exposition, IATA meet and PATA convention. A convention centre, he said, would give the state much more returns as more and
