The Integrated Air Cargo Terminal at Visakhapatnam International Airport is likely to begin operations soon with tenders for award of the contract for ‘domestic cargo’ at the finalisation stage.
The old terminal building at the airport was modified, after a prolonged delay, for carrying out exclusive cargo operations for both domestic and international cargo. Nearly Rs.60 lakh was spent by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on modification of the building and the work was completed nearly a year ago.
Technical problems
The cargo operations could not be started due to technical problems that had cropped up between the AAI and the AP Trade Promotion Corporation (APTPC), which is the custodian of international cargo in the State. The modalities for handling international cargo are yet to be worked out.
The domestic cargo operations from the cargo terminal would begin soon with the tender process at the award stage, official sources said. The location of major industries, pharmaceutical industries and Special Economic Zone and the presence of two seaports in the city indicate the huge demand for exports and the potential for exports by air from the city.
It’s learnt that the opening up of the integrated cargo complex could rake in revenue of Rs.3 lakh to Rs.4 lakh a month for the AAI that too only from domestic cargo.
