By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 19, 2015 :

A Common User Domestic Cargo Terminal [CUDCT] is proposed to be established at the Airport here.

Airport Authority of India [AAI] will carry out a feasibility study to identify and assess the cargo potential to and from Bhubaneswar Airport for the purpose, an AAI release on Thursday said.

AAI in association with Odisha government managed Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation Ltd [IPICOL] organised a co-ordination meeting to deliberate on potential, infrastructural requirements, administrative requirements and available resources for setting up of a CUDCT at length.

Chaired by IPICOL chairman and managing director, Sanjiv Chopra the meeting was attended among others by AAI eastern regional executive director, S. Bhaduri, airport director, Sharad Kumar and other stake holders like airlines and industries etc.

Reailsing the enormous potential for growth of air cargo in the country AAI is gearing up to take the advantage of the situation by providing the cargo facilities even in two-tier cities in which will also meet the principles of hub and scope for development of all regions.

AAI envisages operations of handling the domestic cargo in a full fledged manner which will also integrate the far-flung areas and regions for development of air cargo and thus facilitate trade in the process.

Accordingly, 24 airports across the country have identified for this purpose. The objective is to create the basic infrastructure at AAI airports having potential for air cargo growth by CUDCT. This would also get manifested in fulfilling the socio-economic responsibilities of developing the regions which have remained uncovered through air cargo movement, the release added.

This will also leverage the AAI to optimally utilize its old, redundant or under-utilized domestic passenger terminals by converting them into a cargo facility after carrying out necessary modifications. AAI is also on the anvil to explore launching Air Freight Stations (AFS’s) by optimally & judiciously utilizing the excess land available with AAI at off-airport locations.