Previous governments only catered to their vote banks and ignored the need for the creation of infrastructure like airports for the general public, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.
Modi, who was in Goa to inaugurate the new airport at Mopa plateau in North Goa, which he also named after former defence minister late Manohar Parrikar, also said that before he came to power, there were only 70 airports in the country, and in the last eight years, 72 more were added.
"Earlier, only 70 airports were there. But now we have connected it with small cities. We have expanded the network of airports. This has resulted in 72 new airports in the last eight years. In 70 years…only 70 airports and in the last eight years new 72 airports. It has doubled in the last eight years,” the Prime Minister said.
“In our country, the approach towards infrastructure for many decades was more than the need of the public, priority was given to (their) vote bank. Because of this thousands of crores were spent on projects which were not much needed. Hence, wherever there was a need for infrastructure, it was sidelined,” he also said.
Modi also said that his government’s aviation policy had led to the country becoming the third aviation market in the world, which had in turn expanded the scope for the Indian middle class to fly as an affordable option of travel.
“Before 2014, the approach of the government was such that travelling by flight was considered a luxury. They didn’t think of the middle class, who also could have travelled by air. They did nothing for the development of airports. Despite potential, we lagged behind. Now the nation is working for development,” he said.
The new airport named after Parrikar, who served as Goa CM four times, has the capacity to handle 40 lakh passengers per annum and the capacity could be beefed up to nearly 3.5 crore in the future. “This will help the tourism area. Cargo facilities will increase export opportunities,” Modi said.