Mumbai firm gets Rajasansi contract

Mumbai-based JAC Air Services Pvt Ltd has got the order to run cargo operations at Rajasansi International Airport, Amritsar.

The Airports Authority of India had floated tenders to outsource the operations of the cargo complex to private parties. The contract for outsourcing its maintenance and operation has been given to the company for five years.

Two companies were shortlisted to run the cargo operations, JAC Air Services Private Ltd and GSEC Group, and after the technical discussions the contract was given to JAC Air Services.

Speaking to Business Standard, JAC Air Services Managing Director Lalit Jobanputra said: "The legal formalities are to be done by the AAI. Once they are through and the job is handed over to us, we will start the operations in 15 days."

Exports and imports take place on passenger airlines apart from Ariana Afghana. It is expected that with the start of the services, more players will join.

According to a feasibility report prepared by Punjab Agro Industries Corporation and the Agriculture Produce and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), there is an export potential of Rs 100 crore a day.

Exporters agree. According to the data for a period of 2006-07, 1,240 tonnes of goods worth Rs 68.38 crore were exported from the airport, whereas during the corresponding period of 2005-06, 670 tonnes of goods worth Rs 28.50 were exported from the airport.

In 2007-08 till May 161 tonnes of goods worth Rs 6.42 crore were exported. Firms that export from Rajasansi Airport are Bharti Field Fresh, S K Agro Overseas, and Sira Enterprises. As far as imports are concerned, 46 tonnes of goods worth Rs 5.25 crore were imported through the airport up to May in the current financial year.

In 2006-07, imports were 172 metric tonnes worth Rs 12.15 crore.