Domestic air cargo: Achievement Exceeds Targets

There is a shortfall in achieving the targets of international cargo in the year 2008-09 & 2009-10 & domestic cargo in the year 2007-08 & 2008-09 due to global economic slow down. However, the achievement exceeds the targets in domestic cargo during the year 2009-10.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has forecasted the growth of International cargo and Domestic cargo at all the airports taken together @10% & 15% during the year 2010-11 & 2011-12; @ 10% & 12% during the year 2012-13 & 2014-15 respectively taking 2009-10 as the base year.

The steps taken and proposed to be taken to strengthen cargo facilities at various airports are given below:

Steps taken/proposed to be taken to strengthen Cargo Facilities

Kolkata Airport
· The Phase I of New Integrated Cargo terminal (NICT) admeasuring 19150 sqms was made fully operational in 2008 thereby augmenting the total area to 21906 sqms with annual capacity of 1.25 lakh Metric Tonne (MT).
· The Phase I of the NICT is provided with Elevated transfer Vehicle (ETV) in the export wing and the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS & RS) in the Import wing for automated Cargo handling operations and usage of space vertically.
· As per the cargo estimation, the existing capacity of Kolkata Airport is sufficient to meet the requirement till 2020.

Chennai Airport
· Phase III/IV of the New Integrated Cargo terminal, with latest Automated Storage and Retrieval System is under construction at Chennai Airport enhancing the area from 35920 sqms to 54620 sqms. With the commissioning of this project, the annual cargo handling capacity would rise from 3.5 lakh MT to 5.15 lakhs MT.
· As per the cargo estimation, the existing capacity of Chennai Airport is sufficient to meet the requirement till 2020.
· In addition to augmentation of the space, it is proposed to add more facilities for automation and mechanization for speedy clearance of cargo at metro Cargo Terminals. The following actions have been planned:
o To handle export cargo by conveyor belts
o Scissor lift at Truck Dock area for handling loose cargo and shipper loaded Unit Load Devices(ULDs) for bonded truck operations
o Up-gradation of Old NT Hub (Net Transaction) for WEB based EDI (Electronic data Interexchange) transaction.

Coimbatore Airport
· At Coimbatore Airport, AAI has further augmented the international export/import cargo annual handling capacity from 18950 MT to 31240 MT.
· Steps are being taken to implement EDI under Customs ICES Version 1.5 to facilitate the trade.

Amritsar Airport
· EDI under ICES Version 1.5, for white shipping bills (for No Customs Duty Draw back) has been implemented by the Customs Authorities.
· Further steps are being taken to implement EDI for green shipping bills (for Customs Duty Draw back) under Customs ICES Version 1.5 to facilitate the trade.

IGI Airport, Delhi
DIAL has entered into a Joint Venture with CELEBI for modernization of existing integrated brown field cargo (Terminal Size: 70,000 Sq. Mtrs) & also awarded 2nd a concession to Cargo Service Centre for development of Green field cargo (Terminal Size: 50,000 Sq. Mtrs) operation. Additionally DIAL has also identified areas for proposed development of supporting Cargo infrastructure eg. Facilities for Forwarders/Logistics and Special Handling etc. There is a proposed expansion of the Cargo Apron to cater to the cargo aircraft movement increase.

Bengaluru International Airport, Devenahalli
· Establishment of Cargo village for 200 agents and freight forwarder.
· Providing rent-free space to animal quarantine, plant quarantine and drug controllers’ office.
· Increase in vertical storage space to cater to increasing cargo.
· Introduction of mezzanine floor in one of the cargo terminals in the future.
· Streamlining of cargo transactions through e-trade initiative and in-house software.

Future expansion plans in respect of other AAI managed airports
* Cargo terminal at Port Blair Airport has been taken over from Andaman & Nicobar Administration. Modalities are being finalized to commence the domestic cargo operations from the said Terminal.
* Construction of the Cargo terminal at Srinagar Airport is in the planning stage.
* Considering the demand of the trade, viability study for constructing the Cargo Terminal at Surat Airport is being done by AAI to know the future potential for planning the Terminal.
* Viability study for constructing the Cargo Terminal at Pune Airport has been completed by AAI and the matter is submitted to the appropriate authority for ‘in principle’ approval
* The proposed Air Cargo Terminal at Patna airport is planned in joint venture between AAI and the state govt. (Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority [BIADA]).
* Under CPC policy, AAI has identified the sites for establishing cold storage facility at Agartala, Dimapur & Guwahati Airports.
26/08/10 PRESS RELEASE/Press Information Bureau

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Categories: Cargo Aug 2010