Tiruchi airport to get cold storage facility by March
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.
Post a Comment