Cold chain facility at Amritsar airport soon

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 6

The exports of perishable commodities, especially fruits and vegetables from Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, to other countries are likely to get a shot in the arm with the commencement of cold chain facilities at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar and Chandigarh International Airport, benefitting the farming community.

The facility at Amritsar airport will be functional by June this year while it will be operational in Chandigarh by December. Currently, in the absence of cold chain infrastructure at these airports, exporters are either discouraged or compelled to export the consignments from Delhi, leading to high transportation costs.

The cold chain facility at Amritsar airport has been in operation since 2013 and was maintained and operated by Punjab Agri Export Corporation Ltd (PAGREXO). However, the facility was discontinued in 2014, thus affecting the exports for over years. 

“The cold chain facility at the Amritsar airport has not been operational since 2014. The infrastructure is in dire straits. AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Company Services Ltd (AAICLAS), a subsidiary of the Airports Authority of India, has already signed an MoU with the Punjab government for the operation and maintenance of cargo terminal at Amritsar airport. As per the MoU, the AAI will operate and manage the Centre for Perishable Cargo or cold chain facility at the airport,” said a senior AAI official. 

“Soon, we will float a tender for refurbishing the facility and in the next couple of months, it will be operational commercially,” he said. The facility has a storage capacity to handle 80 metric tonnes of perishable cargo. The move will boost agricultural exports from Punjab and neighbouring states.

According to estimates, around 30% of the cargo originating from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan are handled at the IGI Airport in Delhi. According to airport officials, the opening of cold chain facilities at Amritsar airport will not only decongest Delhi airport but would offer a better, economical and an efficient alternative to the exporters, thereby benefitting the farmers. 

The air cargo development at Chandigarh will be a major breakthrough in connectivity scenario of the region. lt will boost agriculture exports of Punjab and neighbouring states.

“The Chandigarh cargo terminal will be operational by the end of this year,” said Rajat Agarwal, CEO, Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion.