Vijayawada Airport to get 25000 sq m building for cargo operations

In order to handle cargo operations, Vijayawada airport will soon have a designated building spanning 2,500 square metres along with cold storage facility. The domestic cargo facility was launched at the old terminal building in June 2018 and the services commenced in August and about 40 tonnes of cargo is handled per day. Estimates in this regard are under final stages and tenders will be invited shortly. Shreepa Logistics, a private firm, was given the contract to serve as the facility’s logistics partner. The airport authorities have mooted the idea of a designated building for cargo operations along with cold storage facility, considering the airport’s potential for handling special cargo flights operated by the IAF and Air India from New Delhi carrying emergency medical supplies, including PPE, N95 masks and sanitisers, during COVID-19. “We submitted representations to the AAI officials and they have prepared proposals for a designated building to handle cargo operations and a cold storage facility for preserving perishable goods,” says, Potluri Bhaskar Rao, General Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Chambers