APSTC to set up aircargo complex at Hyd airport

Rs 3 cr complex likely to be ready by year-end

The Andhra Pradesh State Trading Corporation (APSTC) is planning to set up a state-of-the-art aircargo complex at the Hyderabad airport at a cost of Rs 3 crore.

Designed as a three-storeyed structure, the new 30,000 sq ft air cargo complex is being planned to meet the rapidly growing export and import activities at the airport besides the introduction of new flight services.

The new complex is scheduled to be ready by December this year. The works will commence in a month.

M Chandra Mouli, managing director of APSTC, told Business Standard that the entire amount was being arranged as a grant to APSTC through the Government of India's ASIDE scheme.

APSTC is at present handling the aircargo at private godowns which are located outside the airport, causing a lot of inconvenience to the customers.

The corporation has decided to use the pre-fabricated material 'Kirby'to expedite the construction works. For the required space in the airport premises, APSTC has entered into a lease agreement with the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

It will pay Rs 72 lakh a year to AAI towards the lease amount. It has already paid the lease amount for the year.

APSTC is at present earning around Rs 40 lakh a month from aircargo handling, which grew by 22 per cent over the last few years.

"We are providing excellent facilities for exports and imports at the new complex. The overall business is expected to grow with new aircrafts being introduced," the APSTC managing director said.

According to Vasanth Kumar, in-charge of the aircargo complex project, the new facility would contain several security features.