Better connectivity: New international air cargo complex at Vizag airport

Visakhapatnam, Nov 21:  

Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju inaugurated the new international air cargo complex at the airport.

He said it was a small beginning and “Vizag should go on to compete with Mumbai and Chennai in handling air cargo in view of the vast potential of the area.”

Land for runway expansion

The State government has given land for extension of runways at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry to facilitate the landing of bigger aircraft, Raju said. The facilities at the Vizag airport will be improved and the new airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district will also cater to the needs of the city, he added.

“Civil aviation has a force multiplier effect on the growth of the economy and the sector will witness great changes,” the Minister said.

The new air cargo facility has 674.64 sq metres of space, including 120.06 sq metres open space containing all essential facilities.

“Although the present focus is on pharma, marine and valuable cargo, we expect many more product groups to use the complex. Soon, we will also start bonded trucking movement from this complex which will enable exporters and importers to use gateway airports like Hyderabad and Chennai for their international connectivity,” said Samir Mankad, CEO and Executive Director of GSEC, which has been given the operation and maintenance of the cargo complex.

‘All facilities available’

G Prakash Reddy, director of the airport, said the complex had all the facilities, though there was a little bit of delay in setting it up.

M Sadhu Sundar, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of AP Trade Promotion Corporation, said the local trade and exporters should make full use of the facilities.

Rakesh Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of GSEC, said that his company would leverage its experience and expertise in the field “to replicate our success in air cargo handling at other airports here also. We are sure of success with the help of the local industry and trade.”

(This article was published on November 21, 2017)

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Rate this post