There had been 7.3 per cent decline in the domestic freight movement from Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur recorded at 651 Metric Tonnes (MT) during April-May 2017-18 period compared to 702 MT during the corresponding period of the previous year, the latest domestic freight movement data of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has revealed.
There was 16.3% jump in the cargo traffic from 1,600 tonnes to approx. 4,000 tonnes in financial year 2014-15 from Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, officials informed.
Notably, the total exports from Chhattisgarh's already operational SEZ during 2014-15 stood at Rs 3.19 crore and Rs 1.84 crore in 2013-14.
Export Promotion Council for EoUs and SEZs (EPCES) has been undertaking several activities for enhancing exports as well as resolving issues concerning EoUs and SEZs.
The Central Government, on the basis of inputs/suggestions received from stakeholders on the policy and operational framework of the SEZ Scheme, periodically reviews the policy and operational framework of SEZs and takes necessary measures so as to facilitate speedy and effective implementation of SEZ policy, officials informed.
Notably, on the other hand, two more new Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are currently being developed in Chhattisgarh for providing a major boost to exports and industrial development in the State.
A Solar SEZ is being set up in Rajnandgaon which is being developed by lanco Solar Private ltd which is spread over 250 acres of the land.
The SEZ will cater to the solar equipment manufacturing industry. A 100 MWpA Polysilicon and wafer manufacturing facility by lanco Solar Private ltd. is already operational in the SEZ, officials informed.
The other key SEZ coming up is the IT/ ITeS SEZ in Naya Raipur for which a multi sector complex is being developed by Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA).
The SEZ would comprise state-of-the-art facility for manufacturers and service providers with focus on IT/ITeS and Electronics.
The exports from Food and Agro, IT/ITeS, Automobiles and Auto ancillaries manufacturing, leather, Footwear and Sports goods Sector, Electronic and Hardware and Software services and Textiles sector SEZs during the last five years .
Notably, Chhattisgarh’s new hi-tech capital — Naya Raipur would also have an ‘Integrated Freight Complex’ spread in an area of 130.67 hectares, officials stated.
Early this year, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had also put forward a proposal that a ‘Cargo Hub’ should be developed in Naya Raipur .
He had stated that his Ministry will bear the entire development cost if the Chhattisgarh Government agrees to provide land for the proposed hub.
To this, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh who had met the Union Railway Minister in New Delhi and had assured the latter that his government will provide land for the project.
The Chhattisgarh Government is already in the process of upgrading infrastructural facility to further accelerate Export-Import ( EXIM) activity from its Inland Container Depot (ICD) located at Kapa in old Raipur.
The project cost of the proposed works within the ICD campus is Rs 3.10 crore, officials stated.
The project had been undertaken under ‘Developing Export Infrastructure & Allied Activities’ (ASIDE) scheme of the Central government .
Notably, Central public sector undertaking Container Corporation of India (CCI) is in the process of developing a 'logistics Hub' on over 100 acres of land in Naya Raipur, officials, stated.
The Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur is one of the 'Commissioned Common User Domestic Air Cargo Terminals' (CUDCT) among several others in the country promoting global air cargo movement, officials informed.
AAI has also drawn up ambitious plans for creating infrastructure for an international level business and leisure destination on the city side of Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.
The project aims to provide a world-class environment, in which people can work, play and stay while catering to the surge in traffic of corporate travellers and tourists, officials informed.
The entire land 80 acres of land earmarked for developing various types of infrastructure may be provided to multiple entities / developers for modular development on 30 year lease or to a single entity under PPP concessional framework for development of the city-side for 30 year lease, they informed.
The AAI believes that development of the city side of the airport would make the region an ‘economic hub’ with exceptional connectivity, officials informed.
The city side development of the airport also envisages setting up of hotels and convention centers with an ‘Airport Commercial District’ which would also include ‘Airport Business District’, and a host of world-class passenger convenience amenities among others.