GMR Airports, which operates Mopa’s Manohar International Airport through GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL), is betting big on air cargo transportation through Goa, particularly of pharmaceutical and perishable goods. About 46,000 metric tonnes of cargo is generated in the state and GGIAL wants to corner 65% of this over the next two to four years.
However, experts said, to harness the potential of air cargo transportation, a clear roadmap based on skill development, supportive regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure is required.
Thakur Purshottam Singh, the business head for air cargo at GGIAL, said, “We have projected 30,000 metric tonnes in Phase I.”
The remaining cargo needs could be handled by the port and by the inland container terminal built by Konkan Railway, he said.
Manohar International Airport started air cargo operations on Sep 8 and has handled 3,000 metric tonnes of international cargo and 2,000 metric tonnes of domestic cargo. Being close to the border of Maharashtra and Karnataka, the airport can serve all the three states and could emerge as the second largest air cargo hub of Western India.
“We have a good, expandable land parcel where we can really accelerate infrastructure development,” said Singh, speaking to TOI after being appointed chairman of Air Cargo Forum India’s Goa chapter. He said that Goa has a rich opportunity to grow in the logistics sector.
“The cargo volume has increased drastically, as many pharma companies of Goa and Mumbai area have validated the facility and started cargo movements,” said a stakeholder from the air cargo sector.
Singh, who has two decades in the air cargo and aviation industry, said that the lack of skilled workforce can hamper the growth of the sector. “Skilling is one area where we are lacking,” Singh said. “Logistics can create jobs in IT and transportation among other sectors . All these are new jobs which will buoy Goa.”