GHIAL to set up Centre for Perishable Cargo at RGIA

Hyderabad, Aug 16 (UNI) GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) will set up a world-class centre for perishable cargo at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA).

''Infrastructure is the key to economic development and we are confident that our proposed Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) at Hyderabad would give a great boost to the movement of perishables and boost the horticulture activity of Andhra Pradesh and South India. It will also benefit farmers and make them more competitive in the present WTO (World Trade Organization) regime,'' GHIAL Chief commercial Officer Viswanath Attaluri said in a statement today.

The CPC would be designed to handle 13,000 tonnes per annum of perishable cargo under Phase I (up to 2011) and the capacity would be raised to 25,000 tonnes per annum under Phase II (2013-2014).

The projected investment for phase I of the project would be Rs 40 crore with a subsidy of Rs 20 crore from APEDA (The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority). The balance amount will be provided by GHIAL to cover land cost and infrastructural facilities like roads, freight bay and three acres of land, the statement added.

GHIAL would also invest Rs 10 crore in Phase II.

''Air transportation and effective clearance at the Centre of Perishable Cargo at RGIA will offer a good opportunity for the trade in perishables. The proposed Centre will bring Hyderabad onto the centre stage of trade for perishables,'' the statement said.

UNI VA SBA KP1714