Air cargo players demand exclusive freight stations

New Delhi: The air cargo industry has demanded that the government build air freight stations, or agent bonded terminals, on the lines of the container freight stations at seven major ports in India. The industry wants the government to provide for a designated area around major international airports which will be used exclusively for cargo operations.
The move could enable industry, especially exporters and importers, to cut transaction cost and save time spent on freight movement. The air cargo industry has sought land near the international airports at Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Bangalore to set up air freight stations. The industry is of the view that cargo terminals should be provided for and made at the new privately-run airports of Mumbai and Delhi in consultation with cargo agents.
Such a move would require an additional investment of a few hundred crores, according to experts. However, with Indian freight traffic expected to grow at more than 20% per annum, the need for agent bonded terminals is growing significantly.
The industry feels that a single agency should operates these terminals for all types of cargo.
05/05/08 Gunjan Pradhan Sinha/Economic Times

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Categories: Cargo May 2008