Launch of cargo complex operations brooks no delay

Absence of cold storages at airport affects exporters badly

Undue delay in commencement of Integrated Cargo Complex at the Visakhapatnam International Airport continues to hit exporters badly.

In the absence of cold storages and other facilities, exporters are routing their cargo through Hyderabad and Chennai airports. This has been continuing, though modification of the old terminal building has been completed long ago.

Exporters say that the stand-off between two government agencies — Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the AP Trade Promotion Corporation (APTPC) — over payment of dues should no longer be allowed to have an adverse impact on the industry.

“Exporters prefer to send 60 to 70 per cent of medicines through air, and cold storages near the airport are essential to promote exports by air. The cold storages at the Visakhapatnam airport can be developed with funds under the ASIDE scheme,” Director-General of Pharmexcil R. Appaji said recently.

“There is no progress in spite of our bringing it to the notice of the Chief Minister, the Visakhapatnam MP, and the Civil Aviation Minister. Flowers from Kadiam in East Godavari and pharmaceuticals from Visakhapatnam are being exported through Chennai and Hyderabad respectively,” Airport Advisory Board Member O. Naresh Kumar told The Hindu .

“Pending clearance of the dues by the APTPC, the AAI could allow two or three more private players for handling of cargo while retaining the APTPC as the custodian. When some of the berths in the Visakhapatnam Port have been privatised, there is nothing wrong in allowing private players to handle international cargo,” he said, and added that it was high time the Chief Minister and the Visakhapatnam MP resolved it at the earliest.

While the domestic cargo operations are expected to begin soon as the tender process has begun, the international cargo operations could take a longer time, official sources say.