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To sort out the export cargo pile-up at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here over the last two weeks, the Commerce Ministry has called a meeting on Thursday with the Customs Department and the Civil Aviation Ministry officials.
Exporters claim that around 900 trucks with cargo worth around Rs 90 crore are stuck at the airport due the slow functioning of the software used for clearance at the terminal, mismanagement at the airport and space crunch there.
Official sources told Business Line that the decision to convene an inter-ministerial meeting follows complaints from exporters – especially those in the readymade garments, made-ups and handicrafts businesses – that they are facing huge losses due to the delay.
On Wednesday, a delegation led by Mr S.P. Agarwal, President, Delhi Exporters Association (DEA), met the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Mr P.K. Chaudhery, Special Secretary, Commerce Ministry, and informed them of the situation.
“There are around 700-900 trucks with export consignments worth around Rs 70-90 crore waiting for clearance for the past fortnight. This is leading to delays and buyers abroad are threatening to cancel orders or are asking up to 50 per cent discount. This will hit our profit margins and may even lead to losses,” Mr Agarwal said.
He said exporters had booked orders a few weeks ago and had chosen the air route – which is normally faster, but 10 times costlier than sea freight – as they had promised their buyers quick delivery. But due to the delay, the very purpose of spending more money on air freight is defeated, Mr Agarwal said.
The trucks with the cargo have been forced to wait for 2-3 days even to get a token to get an entry into the terminal, a DEA statement said. It added that the token system is getting “fishy” and is not given on a first-come-first-served basis.
Mr Agarwal said it is taking 5-7 days at the IGI Airport to get clearance for the goods as against the international norm of 24-48 hours.
He said the Commerce Ministry will also hold talks with the cargo-handling firm at the IGI airport, Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management – a joint venture between the Turkish Celebi Group and the GMR Group. The DEA has written about this to the Commerce and Civil Aviation Ministers and is seeking the Prime Minister's intervention to sort out the issue.
The DEA has recommended that the Hajj Terminal at the IGI Airport could be used as a temporary measure to clear the backlog.
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