Air cargo complex in Mangalore to be ready by mid-May

Mangalore, February 3: The much awaited air cargo complex at Mangalore Airport is all set to become a reality. Mangalore Airport Director M R Vasudeva has said that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) headquarters has approved the civil works design for the proposed complex that would be set up in the old terminal building at Bajpe.

He said that the AAI has invited tender for the civil construction, which is likely to be finalised by the end of this month and the construction at an estimated cost of Rs 35 lakh finished by end of March.

“The cargo terminal in Mangalore airport is likely to become functional by mid-May”, he added.

The exporters in the coastal Karnataka and north Karnataka, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Kodagu, Mysore, and Kasaragod will be able to send the goods from Mangalore airport once the cargo terminal becomes functional, according to G.G. Mohandas Prabhu, the former president of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved Rs. 35.33 lakh for construction of the terminal, and the existing building is worth Rs. 4.5 crore.

The tenders will be opened on February 27, Mr. Vasudeva said. The civil works will be taken up to provide partitions, cold storage section, space for customs officials for handling cargo and dangerous goods, and screening of goods. The construction will be on an area of 4,000 sq feet, which will divided equally for the exports and imports.

However, it will take some more time for the complex to become functional as the issue of custodianship is yet to be resolved. Barracks that are being built at a cost of Rs. 25 lakh for an additional 30 personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will be completed by March-end.

The barracks provide bachelor accommodation to the personnel for 1 to 2 years.

Mr. Vasudeva said that Rs. 1 crore has already been spent on the construction of accommodation of CISF personnel.

The airport has also called for tenders for taking up construction of kennels for dogs used in bomb detection and security. The cost of the kennel construction is Rs. 40 lakh. The work will be completed by June, he said.