Pune: The project of transporting international cargo from Pune’s Lohegaon airport, which has been pending for over two years, is finally gathering some momentum. On Friday, a delegation from the Airport Authority of India (AAI), from New Delhi visited Lohegaon airport, and inspected the area where the construction of cargo arrangements will be carried out in the vicinity of the airport.
Pune airport director Manoj Gangal said,”After following up for the last two years, an AAI delegation visited the Pune airport to see the land that can be procured for cargo arrangement. A five-member team from New Delhi had visited the airport on Friday, the meeting was positive and we are waiting for clearance from the defence.”
Gangal added, “After the procurement of land, we will start the construction work for cargo arrangements. We are positive that by the end of this year, the international cargo movement will start from Pune airport.”
With over 18,211 metric tonnes of domestic cargo movement from Pune airport last year, the city indeed needs a separate cargo arrangement for international cargo.
President of the Maharashtra Chambers of Commerce Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), S K Jain, said, “As on date, more than 50 per cent of the cargo is shipped from Mumbai goes via Pune. Once we have our own cargo arrangements, it will give more options and agriculture products will be easily exported to various international destinations.”