The Hindu Business Line : Chennai airport to handle more goods, people

INTERNATIONAL air traffic out of the Chennai airport is expected to grow by 6.1 per cent and the domestic traffic by 5.8 per cent in 2004-05, according to a forecast by the Airports Authority of India. The cargo traffic is also expected to grow considering the increased economic activity in the State.

The Chennai Airport Director, Mr R. J. Treasuryvala, said 16 international passenger and 18 freighter airlines operate out of Chennai. In 2003-04, there was an 11.46 per cent increase in cargo throughput at AAI's cargo complex, at 1,19,542 tonnes, with export consignments growing by 7.64 per cent, to 68,442 tonnes. Garments accounting for 26,526 tonnes, leather goods 17,688 tonnes and engineering items 5,105 tonnes made up for much of the export cargo. Contrary to the popular belief that export of perishables was flourishing, floriculture and horticulture accounted for only 75 tonnes and marine products 3,462 tonnes.

The complex handled 51,100 tonnes of import cargo, mainly for the telecom sector. Electronic and electrical goods accounted for 11,783 tonnes, unaccompanied baggage 10,968 tonnes, and engineering spares 6,421 tonnes.

Mr Treasuryvala said that in 2004-05 the cargo movement was expected to cross 1,31,496 tonnes, with exports touching 73,445 tonnes.

In April, a new cold storage was opened for both export and import cargo. With three chambers, this facility has been used mainly for floriculture, meat products and drugs.

A cold storage facility was already set up by the Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority at the air cargo complex. But this did not find favour with the trade, which preferred the old system of bringing perishables just in time to be loaded onto the aircraft. Trade sources said they did not see any reason to change, as cold-storaging consignments would raise their costs.

The first phase of the cargo complex, constructed in 2003 at a cost of Rs 43 crore, extends over 10,000 square metres. The AAI has introduced the elevated transfer vehicle (ETV), which has the one time holding capacity of 300-400 tonnes.

Mr Treasuryvala said that a study on the traffic flow of the Chennai Airport had been done by IIT Madras, and that this would help AAI in its planning. In the last six months, the AAI embarked on a Rs 1-crore beautification programme of the Chennai airport.

This includes laying a new flooring, putting up signages, opening more multi-user counters for passengers, and improving the façade of the passenger terminals. Besides this, Mr Treasuryvala said, the airport has been given a green look with the planting of trees and extending the lawns.