The Hindu Business Line : Trade hails Pune customs airport

From then on, exporters have started breathing easy as their consignments no longer need to make a trip to Mumbai. Talking to media persons, Mr P.C. Nambiar, Director (Exports), Eagle Poonawalla Group, and Chairman of the Foreign Trade Relations, Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), said, Pune along with other six adjoining districts would be able to access the airport for their export/import consignments.

He said the first consignment of ceramic mechanical seals were brought in from Shanghai to Mumbai by Thai Airways and from there to Pune by Indian Airlines and noted that the value of the consignment was close to Rs 1.78 lakh. Giving details, Mr Nambiar said to facilitate the trade and industry from the region, the Customs Department has allowed certain items to be imported directly to the Pune airport. With this, the import consignments which would land at the Pune airport would be directly brought by the customs authorities to the inland container deport (ICD) at Dighi for clearance.

Similarly, it would be vice versa for exports. Looking at the benefits, Mr Nambiar said that for a shipment landing at Mumbai, it takes about six hours for the clearance to happen and then close to a day for coming to Pune while with this new facility, the time span would be cut short to two hours. For exports, it would be about four hours, he noted.

Almost 30 per cent of all cargo that moves in and out of Mumbai comes or goes to Pune or to the other adjoining areas. Asked whether international airlines would now make a beeline for the Pune airport, Mr Nambiar said close to 14 companies in Pune are regular cargo users and plans are already being worked out so that exporters could ship their produce on particular days of the week so as to allow more cargo to be shipped out from the city.

He said Sri Lankan Airlines was in the city a few months ago to assess the situation and added that they were currently exploring the possibility of using Pune as an airport for its flights.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Airbus wants CVC to look into AI's acquisition deal

SriLankan Cargo eyeing fabric, perishables

Trade hails Pune customs airport

Aviation Ministry seeks comments on IA's fleet proposal

AI refutes charges

Gujarat Pipavav raises Rs 125-cr equity from IDF

EEPC calls for Vizag port upgradation

Tea shipments through Amingaon ICD — Shipping lines don't rule out freight hike

ONGC mulls investing in very large crude carrier

Aegis Logistics up on growth prospects — Buyback offer price at Rs 75 per share

Agreement over Kochi port steamer watchmen issue