A
five-tonne capacity cold storage facility for storing perishables would be set
up at the Air Cargo Complex at Tiruchi Airport by end of March.
The
cold storage is being established with the support of Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The facility
would come up at the airport as soon as necessary clearances were issued by the
Airports Authority of India, said S.Dharmaraj, Airport Director, Tiruchi.
The
air cargo complex is also likely to get the Electronic Data Interchange (EID)
for speedy processing and clearance of export/import procedure. “Efforts were
underway in association with the Customs Department to get the facility, also
by March end,” Mr.Dharmaraj said speaking at a function to mark the first
anniversary of the air cargo complex at the airport on Friday.
The
opening of the air cargo complex, which became functional on December 1, 2011,
has contributed to a steady increase in export of cargo through the airport.
The complex has handled 2,143 tonnes of cargo over the past 12 months,
accounting for a 20 per cent increase over the corresponding period the
previous year. However, the annual handling capacity of the complex was around
45,000 leaving a huge gap in capacity utilization. The complex had a capacity
to handle 250 tonnes of cargo and it currently handles about 200 tonnes a month
on an average.
Given
the facilities available and 43 international flights a week, there was big
scope for increasing cargo exports and imports through the airport, which
caters to about 14 districts around Tiruchi, Mr.Dharmaraj said and appealed to
the industry and other stakeholders to increase cargo movement. He also
appealed to Air India to lift cargo from the airport as the national carrier
currently does not do so owing to a policy decision.
K.Anantha
Padmanaban, Chief Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Tiruchi, observed that
efforts to increase the capacity utilisation of the cargo complex have to come
from all stakeholders. “You have to survive by providing better service and
facilities,” he told the airport officials. Though the volume of transaction
was less at the air cargo complex, much importance was being attached to
Tiruchi as manifest by the shifting of the headquarters of the Chief
Commissioner of Customs (Preventive) to the city from Chennai. He assured the
cooperation of the Customs in increasing cargo exports and imports through the
airport.
D.K.Srinivas,
Commissioner of Customs, Tiruchi, observed that given the proximity of Tiruchi
to several other ports and airports in the State, the AAI had to hard sell the
facilities available here. He suggested that the authorities organise road
shows to project the facilities in Tiruchi.
T.V.Murali,
Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry, Tiruchi Zone, underlined the need
for more domestic flights to the city to increase domestic cargo movement. The
export potential from Tiruchi was steadily rising and urged the authorities to
focus on attracting non-perishable cargo, which currently forms the mainstay of
the air cargo complex. Once the airport expansion was over, paving the way for
movement of wide bodied aircrafts, cargo movement would increase, he said.
L.Gnanaraj,
president, District Chamber of Commerce, too emphasised the need for more
domestic connectivity as it could spur cargo shipments.
S.Subramanian,
Manager, Cargo, Tiruchi Airport, said bonded trucking service was introduced,
which gives scope for export and import of cargo through other major airports
in the country. The air cargo complex had trained manpower to handle hazardous
cargo too. The complex had achieved quick turnaround time of both export and
import cargo and there was no procedural delays.
Awards
Sri
Lankan Airlines bagged the award for lifting the highest quantum of cargo (72
per cent of the total exports) among airlines operating from the city, while Al
Salaam Exports bagged the award for exporting the highest quantum of cargo
through the airport. Skyfield India Pvt.Ltd, got an award for maximum
transaction, Guru’s International for accurate and regular shipments and AJ
Exporters, Madurai, for quality packing and product shipments. Mr.Anantha
Padmanaban presented the awards.
20 per cent increase in cargo handling at
airport after opening of air cargo complex
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