The Biju Patnaik International Airport here would handle international cargo from the International Customs Day on January 27, said Customs Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Deepak Arora on Tuesday.
For this purpose, public notice is already in place and the airport authorities have already earmarked a hall adjacent to the domestic air cargo terminal for the purpose of international air cargo terminal, Arora said after a joint meeting at the airport chaired by MSME Principal Secretary lN Gupta.
Arora said the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has accorded concurrence to the city office of the AAI to become custodian of the international air cargo terminal.
The representatives of various export associations like seafood, agro, food processing industries, handloom and handicrafts exporters, and spice exporters indicated that it will be highly beneficial for the industry and trade to get the facility of dispatching cargo from the airport here, instead of the current practice of sending cargo by road via Hyderbad or Kolkata.
Notably, AAI Chairman GP Mahapatra during his recent visit in December had also agreed for the commencement of the cargo operations.
Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi had drawn the attention of Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey towards lack of the facility though the city airport was the only designated airport in State. It was pointed out to him that Odisha is a leading producer and contributor to the seafood export basket of the country.
With the arrangements of air cargo handling facilities at the city airport, processors and exporters will be able to reach and tap markets in west Asia and south- east Asia where demands for such items exist, said Fisheries and ARD Secretary Bishnupada Sethi.
Among others, airport Director R Mahalingam, Joint General Manager (Cargo) AAI (Eastern region) Girish Sharma and Export Promotion and Marketing Director BK Das were present.