Panaji, Aug 1 (PTI) The first phase of the new international airport coming up at Mopa in North Goa would be commissioned in September 2021, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to the demands for grants for the airport department, he said there will be one year delay in commissioning of the first phase of the airport considering the initial deadline was December 2020.

The chief minister said the entire project would be completed in four phases.

The first phase, to be completed in September 2021, will create passenger handling capacity of 4.4 million annually, he said.

Talking about the revenue-sharing agreement with GMR Airports, which is constructing the airport on Build, Own, Operate (BOO) basis, Sawant said despite the delay, the same formula (of revenue-sharing) will continue.

"In case there is further delay in commissioning of the project, the state government will have to bear the cost. But the current one year delay will not cause any financial burden on the government, he said.

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