Bengal govt, Apeda plan cargo complex

West Bengal's food processing department has joined hands with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) and Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) to develop a cargo complex for perishable products in Kolkata.

S S Ahuja, principal secretary, food processing department, informed that the food processing department would construct the complex and run it for the time being. Apeda would fund the entire project, which would cost close to Rs 5.4 crore.

"KoPT will give us land for the project. We are hoping to complete the project in 12 months," he added.

The project would be part of the initiative taken by the state government on setting up a cold storage chain.

"This project will help reduce wastage. On the other hand, it will facilitate exports from the state," he added.

He indicated that if the project is successful, then the state government could think of a similar kind of facilities elsewhere.