The India government is working on a common IT platform for stakeholders in the domestic air cargo segment, which is projected to see increased growth in the next few years.
Ashok Gajapathi Raju, the minister for Civil Aviation, said that India has seen significant growth in domestic air traffic and infrastructure development.
The ministry is taking steps to make air transport affordable to the common man through the Regional Connectivity Scheme.
“The air cargo is likely to grow 9 percent in a next few years and hence logistic parks will help that growth,” said Ashok Gajapathi Raju, while delivering the key note address at the India Integrated Transport & Logistics Summit 2017.
RN Choubey, the secretary of Ministry of Civil Aviation, said that air cargo globally and domestically constituted just 1 percent in terms of volume, but almost 25 percent in terms of value as air cargo was mostly valuable, perishable and time sensitive.
India aims to create a Common Framework within one year for air cargo so that freight operators, airlines, security as well addressees come within one system. This will bring efficiency in handling air cargo.
The secretary also informed that Common User Cargo Terminals would be created at 17 airports. He said that the free period for air cargo had been brought down from 72 to 48 hours to ensure faster movement out of terminals.