In a first for India, airlines have started accepting cargo at Container Corporation of India’s (Concor’s) inland container depot (ICD) at Kanpur. All prior customs clearances and claim of duty drawback will now happen at the ICD facility itself. Kanpur exports about 500 tonne a month of air cargo and imports about 115 tonne .
GMR, which operates the Delhi airport, has tied up with Concor to start bonded trucking service. A truck will pick-up and drop bonded cargo between Kanpur and Delhi Airport three times a week.
The first truck – flagged of on Thursday — carried leather goods from Suri Shoes, Mirza International, and Arvind Footwear with a load of 1.6 tonne. These goods were linked to Cathay Pacific and Emirates Airlines at Delhi Airport.
The transit time between Kanpur and Delhi is expected to be less than 12 hours. Moreover, the facility will reduce multiple handling of air cargo.
Yash Vardhan, Director – International, Concor said: “This is the first time in India that the airport, airline, inland container depots, customs and customers have joined hands to offer such a unique service at a location.”
“This will ensure better protection and minimal transit risk of the cargo items,” said Pradeep Panicker, Chief Commercial Officer - Aero, Delhi International Airport Ltd.