A dedicated import cargo processing area has been established at the Tiruchi international airport. The facility catering exclusively to import cargo dispatched in foreign airlines has been created adjoining the existing export freight terminal.
The need for a dedicated import cargo processing area was felt as the one which existed earlier was converted into a full-fledged international courier terminal which is awaiting commissioning for several months now.
The new area created to exclusively handle import cargo has been set up on over 150 square metres. It has been split into three segments – storage area, examination point and delivery area.
A ramp has been provided to connect the import cargo processing area with the export freight terminal for easier movement of men and materials. The import processing area has access to the city side of the airport which has witnessed steady rise only in export cargo movements over the years.
Unlike international export cargo, imports have been negligible with no appreciable increase due to various reasons. The entire period of 2016-17 fiscal saw only a little over 50 tonnes of import cargo having been handled at the airport, while export cargo handled exceeded 6,900 tonnes.
The average imports clocked every month is only about four tonnes which is far below when compared to exports which exceeds 500 tonnes, say airport sources.
Of the five foreign carriers operating flights every day, it is the Sri Lankan Airlines and the Air India Express which carried import cargo last fiscal. However, the scenario is exactly the opposite with respect to export cargo wherein all the five carriers including Air Asia, Tiger Airways and Malindo Air lift freight every day.
There is no movement of domestic cargo too due to absence of direct connectivity to any major city other than Chennai.
There was expectation of growth in the freight sector once the international courier service gets commissioned at the airport.
However, courier service is yet to take off despite creation of a dedicated terminal with all infrastructure facilities including installation of an x-ray machine to screen consignments and payment of cost recovery charges well in advance to the Customs by the Airports Authority of India over six months ago.
Stakeholders say a local notification from the Customs authorities in Tiruchi is all that is required to commission the courier service.
