GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) has decided to set up a world-class centre for perishable cargo (CPC) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here.
The CPC will be designed to handle 13,000 tonne per annum of perishable cargo under phase-I (up to 2011) and the capacity will be raised to 25,000 tonne per year under phase-II (2013-14).
“It will give a boost to the movement of perishables and will aid horticulture sector in the state to be more competitive,” GHIAL chief commercial officer Viswanath Attaluri stated in a press release.
The projected investment for the phase-I of the project is Rs 40 crore with a subsidy component of Rs 20 crore from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda).
The remaining amount will be invested by GHIAL to cover for land cost and infrastructural facilities like roads, freighter bay and 3 acres of land. GHIAL will also invest an additional amount of Rs 10 crore in phase-II.
GHIAL assessed the export potential of 5,000 tonne produce in the near future as Andhra Pradesh produces about 10.5 million tonne fruits and vegetables a year. Mango, grape, pomegranate, sapota, papaya, custard apple, water melons, banana and others are exported.
The CPC will also serve the pharmaceutical and biological segments to import and export about 3,000 tonne per year in these sectors. There is a considerable movement of one-day old chicks, hatching eggs and livestock products from Hyderabad up to an extent of 1,000 tonne per year.
The Air Cargo Complex at the RGIA currently has a capacity to handle 1,00,000 tonne a year.
