The Hindu Business Line : Test runs of GMR Hyderabad airport cargo facility soon

Hyderabad, Dec. 28 As the GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) readies itself for commercial launch in March 2008, the GHIAL-Menzies joint venture, which is setting up a 10-acre cargo facility there, is busy preparing for test runs of the hi-tech facility shortly.

While testing various components of cargo handling, the company would also put to test several aspects that hold the key to synchronise with the airport operations and make it fully operational, a GHIAL representative said. The cargo facility, when it commences operations, could handle one lakh tonnes of cargo, 150 per cent more than the current capacity of 40,000 tonnes at the existing airport.

The company is also toying with the idea of creating an exclusive centre for perishable cargo to handle large quantum of pharma, agro products and processed marine products.

The GHIAL formed a joint venture company with Menzies Aviation Plc last year for operations and maintenance of the cargo terminal. The joint venture with the global leader in ground and cargo handling would be in vogue for 15 years.

Technical advantage

The new generation cargo terminal would have the IT application Hermes, a norm in some top airports across the world. The integrated IT solution at the terminal would take care of warehouse management right from the time of accepting export cargo and the truck dock area till it is uplifted, the representative said. “Similarly, in the case of import cargo – from the time it is offloaded from the aircraft till it is customs cleared, delivered and disposed,” he said. Though designed to handle 1 lakh tonnes, the cargo terminal is being built in a modular way, allowing options to modify for future needs.

Of the total area of 14,330 sq mt, the international air cargo complex would have 6,610 sq mt and the domestic air cargo complex would have 4,346 sq mt.

The GHIAL executive said the company was planning to make it a global cargo hub, tapping the geographical advantage of the airport. Besides its locational advantage within India, the airport connects the East with the West. Also, it is at the centre of the important aviation hubs of Singapore and Dubai airports, the executive said.

The fact that the present airport at Begumpet handles 250 flights a day shows the growing importance of the location. “More airlines are planning to connect to Hyderabad once the international airport commences operations. Besides, the existing players too are stepping up operations,” he said.

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