The long-felt demand of the exporters for the establishment of a canopy in front of the air cargo terminal at the international airport here has finally been addressed. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has granted approval for erecting the canopy recently.
With the sanction for a canopy having come through, the Tiruchi airport authorities have floated tender to award the contract for this facility. Airport authorities want to complete the canopy work as quickly as possible to help the exporters.
The AAI southern regional headquarters had accorded sanction based on a proposal sent by the airport authorities following long-pending demand from the exporters, airport sources said.
Traders’ plea was that a canopy would facilitate easy handling of cargo, especially during inclement weather. The matter was raised at several cargo forums.
The sources said the huge canopy would provide cover for vehicles carrying international cargo meant for export at the cargo terminal. The offloading platform at the cargo area is proposed to be extended to accommodate more goods carriers.
On an average, 12 to 14 tonnes of cargo is lifted from the Tiruchi air cargo terminal to different overseas destinations, including Colombo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Kuwait every day.
The available belly space in overseas passenger flights – Sri Lankan Airlines, Tiger Airways and Air Asia — is being utilised to despatch export cargo, 90 per cent of which accounts for perishable commodities such as assortment of vegetables, flowers, and fruits.
The sources said requirements for additional trolleys at the air cargo terminal had been made. The air cargo terminal was poised to have in place closed circuit television facility with surveillance cameras planned at vantage areas inside.
Exporters say although there was tremendous scope for export of general cargo to West Asia, the absence of direct passenger flights from Tiruchi to those countries hampered exports.
Air India alone operates a flight to Dubai every day from Tiruchi. Introduction of more flights to West Asian nations could spur exports, says a Tiruchi-based exporter.
Officials say 350 to 400 tonnes of export cargo was lifted every month and they are optimistic about surpassing the 2013-14 total figures this fiscal.
