In the works since 2021, the integrated cargo complex at Chandigarh’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport has finally been made operational, bringing a significant boost to air freight services in Northern India. The cargo facility covers a total area of 2,400 square meters and consists of five sheds, all of which has been set up at a cost of INR 12.45 crore. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has granted the Regulated Agent status for cargo operations to the airport, further enhancing its operational capabilities.
Equipped with the latest amenities, including cold rooms, reefer vans, forklifts, scissors lifts, pallets, user-friendly weighing scales, and trolleys, the cargo complex is truly ‘integrated’ and has been developed to facilitate smooth and seamless movement of cargo. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to handle both domestic and international cargo, including perishable items. However, initially, it will cater to domestic cargo only, pending customs clearance for international shipments.
Chandigarh Airport has become a significant hub for cargo operations in Northern India, second only to Delhi, with a capacity to handle 2,500 metric tonnes of cargo. With the cargo complex now active, the users may see a drop in the TAT and cost of logistics, considering that they don’t need to route their shipments first to New Delhi (IGI Airport).
The integrated cargo complex, constructed using galvalume technology, boasts four cargo sheds with a total covered area of 1,976 square meters and an additional prefabricated shed spanning 420 square meters for storing perishable goods.
The airport authority has kept in mind the safe handling and transportation of goods by installing high-security measures in place, including CCTV surveillance, door frame metal detectors, explosive trace detectors, and X-ray machines.
The facility’s inauguration not only benefits the airport and its services but also proves to be a game-changer for the pharmaceutical firms in Himachal Pradesh and industrial units in Punjab, providing them with easier access to both domestic and international markets.
It is worth noting that the airport’s cargo complex launch comes eight years after it received the international tag in September 2015, making it a crucial milestone in its development. Last year around this time, it was announced that the cargo complex will become operational within a month, however, that announcement did not see the light of day.
