As if poor road connectivity and other infrastructure contraints are not problematic enough, the Bengaluru International Airport has a new issue to contend with. Air cargo operators have threatened to look out for other south Indian airports for cargo consignment movements if the cargo handling facility at BIAL is not up to the mark.
This warning came at a discussion here on ‘Future of Cargo Operations in Bangalore’, a crucial meet attended by air cargo operators, BIAL officials and representatives from airlines and industries.
Only 45 days are left for the airport in Devanahalli to begin flight operations.
Bangalore Air Cargo Club president Nirmal Singh Sandhu said the air cargo operators are contemplating moving out to the Chennai, Hyderabad or Kochi airports if the airport faces any infrastructure constraints related to cargo handling.
“Moving to other airports is an option. Till date, we have received no confirmation as to what facilities are in place at the airport site or from when they will have to relocate from the present HAL airport to the new airport,” he said.
Currently, Bangalore handles a lakh tonnes of air cargo with an annual growth of 24 per cent.
Shesh Kulkarni, president, UT Worldwide (India) Private Limited, said, “Each company has around 100 odd people; working, relocating the office and other infrastructure facilities should have been done by now. But the promoters of the airport have not been receptive,” he said.
‘Air cargo to BIAL’
A senior BIAL official, however, said air cargo operations would be shifted to the new airport. A temporary facility will be provided in the airport which will have sufficient space for cargo handling areas, warehouses and offices.
He said from March 20, the temporary cargo facility will be handed over to operators. From March 30, no cargo operations will take place from HAL airport.
“A relocation committee has been constituted comprising cargo operators, consortia of SATS-Air India and Bobba Group-Menzies Aviation which will handle cargo operations at the airport. This committee will meet on February 14 and decide the future course of action, including rates for cargo handling,” he said.
