Cargo Complex At Ahmedabad Airport By March 2003

The perishable cargo complex at the Ahmedabad International Airport is likely to be ready by March 2003. The complex was supposed to be operational by September 2001. The estimated cost for the complex is Rs 2.5 crore. The fund will be provided either as grant or interest-free loan by the Agricultural and Processed Foods Exports Development Authority (Apeda).

V M Mehrishi, general manager (marketing and projects) of Gujarat Agro Industries, said: "The complex will be a 50-tonne transit cold storage with facilities like conveyor belt, x-ray machines and docking. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat can avail of the facilities of the complex to export their produce like fruits, vegetables and flowers."

The cargo complex envisages handling 8,000-10,000 tonnes of vegetables and fruits in the next 2-3 years.

He said the cargo complex at Ahmedabad would reduce the export burden of the Mumbai airport that handles around 25,000 tonnes of cargo per annum, which is 80 per cent of the perishable cargo exports from the country.

There is a demand for upgrading the Ahmedabad International Airport to bring it on par with the Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai airports to facilitate the landing of large aircraft.

The Airport Authority of India has already extended the runway. But large aircraft cannot land here because of lack of terminal building facilities.