Surat: The wait for an air cargo hub is getting longer for importers and exporters in south Gujarat region, especially those connected with the agro sector, due to delay in making Surat a fully operational airport.
During their last visit in October 2010, Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials agreed that the city airport had the required land for the expansion of the airport for setting up of a cargo terminal for 50 aircraft.
Surat airport controller, Rajaram Talpe says, "For medium sized cargo aircraft, the city airport is well equipped. We could create the space for six more flights at a short notice apart from the four existing ones. At present we have 317 hectares of land at our disposal and if utilized properly hangars for more than four dozen aircraft could be set up easily."
A team of senior AAI officials had visited the city for the implementation of phase-I of the cargo terminal plan which was prepared in 2008. However, after every visit the official have come up with the same old story of feasibility and amount of business generation from the airport. "On one side we are deprived of air connectivity and on other side the cargo plan also is going nowhere. This has resulted in our businessmen suffering losses up to Rs 700 crore per annum," said Paresh Patel, vice-president of SGCCI.
When we look at the potential for Surat's cargo terminal, it is enormous. It has an annual export potential of Rs1,000 crore from the first year itself. Perishable items which find very high rating on the export list of Mumbai include horticulture, fruits, other agro based products and marine items from south Gujarat.
20/07/11 Melvyn Thomas/Times of India
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