PANAJI: The proposed Greenfield airport at Mopa in North Goa would be commissioned in 2019, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha said today.

“Tourism industry is the backbone of Goan economy. The tourist arrival is more than three fold of Goan population. In order to provide better infrastructure and attract more and more quality tourists, domestic as well as foreign, and also to avoid congestion at Dabolim airport, a Greenfield airport at Mopa has been proposed,” Sinha said while addressing the State Assembly on the first day of the Winter Session here.

“The (state) cabinet has approved Request for Proposal. The construction work is expected to start by September 2016. The actual construction of first phase of the project will take 36 months and project is likely to be commissioned in 2019,” she said.

At present, only the Dabolim airport in Vasco is functional in the coastal state.

Referring to the iron ore export business, the Governor said the mining of iron ore resumed in Goa in September 2015.

“Differential global positioning system survey of 85 mining leases is completed till date with its authentication plans,” she added.

“Total 14 e-auctions were held in which 86,11,783 metric tons of iron ore was put up for bidding that realised a sale value of Rs 831.15 crore. Out of the sale value realised, the State received royalty and processing fees of Rs 110.62 crore,” Sinha said.

“In addition to this, the state has earned royalty amounting to Rs 4.91 crore on account of production of iron ore and bauxite,” the Governor said.

According to the Governor, another significant step taken by the government towards resumption of mining activity in the state included revocation of environmental clearances suspended by the Centre.