CIAL to inaugurate centre for Perishable Cargo soon

Kochi: The Cochin International Airport (CIAL) is all set to inaugurate its newly constructed Centre for Perishable Cargo, which can handle 25,000 tonnes a year.

The facility, to be inaugurated on February 2 by the Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, has been set up with the financial aid of Rs 13.20 crore from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The centre will have all modern infrastructure facilities and fully automated system for ensuring export of farm fresh products to the worldwide markets.

The State Fisheries Minster and Director of CIAL, Mr S. Sarma, said that the farmers of Kerala and neighbouring States would benefit from the 22,000 sq ft centre as they can get better prices for their fresh products.

Dr C.G. Krishnadas Nair, Managing Director, CIAL, said that the airport is also planning to develop itself as a cargo hub for attracting cargo flights to Kochi.

At present there are no dedicated cargo flights to any one of the airports in Kerala. Most of the air cargo is taken to Bangalore or Chennai from where they are trucked by road to various destinations in the State. With the commissioning of the Centre for Perishable Cargo, he said, further expansion of cargo with a dedicated apron for freighter aircraft is planned for the next year. In this connection, the company is also planning to conduct a seminar with cargo operators and experts in the field, he added.

The construction of three additional parking bays are in fast progress and the same would be ready for operation by the end of February.