The Hindu Business Line : Premier status sought for Kolkata airport

THE entire exporting community in the eastern region is excited over the recently inaugurated hi-tech five-storey international Trade Facilitation Centre.

The ITFC, located in the heart of Kolkata, will house five leading export promotion councils besides the Exim Bank and the ITPO.

But the sense of pride on this new facility, is marred by worry among some leading exporters on whether the West Bengal Government, which has already announced its export policy statement, would now seriously pursue some of the demands of the community.

These pertain to speedy improvement in road infrastructure, especially at the LCS points and development of the eastern region ports and airports.

The ITFC is spread over an area of over 60,000 sq ft, along with a magnificent plaza laid out over 14,000 sq ft.

The issues are particularly significant in the context of the prospects looming large over the proposed re-opening of the Nathu La Pass trade point with China in the upper slopes of Sikkim State.

Export cargo will now have to move over a long terrain stretching all the way from south Bengal to North and beyond.

And the pace of progress in the construction of expressways and other State roads, apart from those connected with the Golden Quadrilateral project, is a matter of general concern.

According to some leading exporters of engineering items, the Centre should now accord premier status to the Kolkata airport and allow more foreign airlines to operate from this city to help expand international trade.

Besides airlinks with other important cities in the country and higher flight frequencies, help is also sought for development of Kolkata and Haldia ports, particularly in the context of warehousing, material handling and quick transportation of containers.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Premier status sought for Kolkata airport

Malaysia Airlines to recruit more Indians — Plans additional flights

AI fitness programme

Plan to withdraw volume discount scheme — TAMP gives Kochi port green signal

FedEx for `express' facility in Mumbai

Konkan Railway's profitable ro-ro service — Big savings for truckers too