Cargo facilities to be must at new airports

NEW DELHI: Airport developers, such as GMR, GVK and CIAL, would now have to provide comprehensive cargo facilities at all new greenfield airports. The government is planning to make this condition mandatory in the proposed air cargo policy which is to be finalised within three months.
For business reasons, many developers are already building cargo facilities, however, they are not bound to do so. The proposed policy will also stipulate dedicated cargo area at all existing airports, including those being developed by private operators.
A consultant may be brought on board for advising on making cargo facilities mandatory in the new policy. Airport developers would also shoulder the responsibility of suggesting measures for reducing dwell time at airports. A separate system to speed and spruce up ground handling facilities would also be suggested by the consulting firm.
Through the policy, the government wants to ensure that cargo operations and terminals at all airports (AAI, PPP and private) are efficiently run and charges remain reasonable for freight forwarders, an official said. Air freight, both domestic and international, is growing rapidly in India.
09/05/08 Nirbhay Kumar & Gunjan Pradhan Sinha/Economic Times

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Categories: Airports May 2008, Cargo May 2008