PANJIM, Nov. 28 -- With the tag as one of the best designed airport buildings in India, the Dabolim Airport is making awave. The upcoming structure is expected to handle more than 5,000 passengers on any given day. Ajay Thakur rides the wave

A s the airport business in Goa gets caught between the dreams of Mopa and the needs of Dabolim. The resultant war of words between the government of Goa ( GoG), Airport Authority of India ( AAI) and Indian Navy over the need for more land shadowed the quietly upcoming integrated terminal at Dabolim.

At a cost of Rs 335 crores and spread 62,000 sq meter across four and a half levels, Dabolim Next is set to be amongst the best designed airport building's in India. The new integrated terminal, will host international and domestic arrivals and departures under one roof. It has the capacity to host 2,040 domestic and 800 international passengers. The 2,840 capacity is against the current capacity of 700. Cumulatively that would be over 5000 passengers per day.

Goa is amongst the top ten tourist destinations and Dabolim is India's fastest growing airport. Last charter season, Goa hosted over 1.71 lakh tourists and had 889 flights. Already with its' existing facilities Dabolim handled Mopa's projected traffic after a decade. " The number of tourists arriving in Goa is increasing yearly.

Once ready the Dabolim's Nextgen airport terminal will be capable of handling even more", confirm AAI of- ficials.

True, While Mopa waits, a pipe dream away from Dabolim's aviation clout, the existing airgate of Goa is already making waves.

Aeroports de Paris International's 2005 Report, the basis for Mopa had assumed that the then $ 205 million will be handling 3 million passengers in 2010. Interestingly, the existing Dabolim terminal bypassed that figure in 2010- 11. Aviation experts opine that the swanky new $ 121.25 million terminal may well cross the magical mark of 6 million people for which the government of Goa wants to develop a ( revised) $ 325 million Mopa Airport in its first year itself.

But what Dabolim Next's design is quietly achieving is the critical balance between civilian and military aviation. The fact that it is a naval base that allows civilian flights during specific time slots during day and night besides dealing with seasonal crowds during the tourist season, has been factored in. The new terminal is planned to have high flexibility in terms of integration of both international and domestic passengers as rush increases during peak hours and with minor variations can be changed from traffic to another.

Five dedicated aerobridges that connect aircrafts directly to terminals ensures no more basking in Goan Sun for the romantics. But Dabolim is changing. Well planned roads, a couple of tiered parkings including a 570 capacity will be a welcome departure from the traffic nightmare of the present.

From peacemeal, adhocfully planned old fashioned to a complete transit cum entertainment experience.

The future is here in Dabolim earlier than Mopa.

Making Waves: A model of the Dabolim Next terminal building creative GrouP Published by HT Syndication with permission from Herald Goa. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at [email protected]