Panjim: “India has become the world’s third-largest aviation market and the last 8 years have witnessed 72 new airports compared to 70 airports in earlier 70 years,” Prime minister Narendra Modi said while inaugurating on December 11 the Rs 2,870 crore Greenfield International airport in Mopa Goa. 

The foundation stone for this airport – which has been named after the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar — had been laid in November 2016 and the Mopa airport is expected to cater to around 4.4 million passengers annually, while later expanding to a saturation capacity of 33 million passengers per annum. 

With the Dabolim airport, the presence of two airports has created new opportunities for Goa as a cargo hub. The Mopa airport comprises a solar power  plant, green buildings, state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant with recycling facilities and other best-in-class technologies. 

Describing India as the global centre of attraction, the Prime Minister lamented the “dark time of slavery” faced by India which transformed the image and perspective toward the country, even though the culture and traditions remained the same. 

Noting that many foreigners today are narrating India’s rapidly-changing story on digital platforms, he said that modern technology is being used to make monuments more attractive and journeys to places of pilgrimage and monuments is being facilitated via special trains.