By the middle of this year, a semi-automated freight terminal at the city’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport is likely to commence its operations. The terminal’s first phase, which occupied 21,000 square meters of the 33,000 square meter facility, is finished. The terminal’s infrastructure, which is situated on the airport site close to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) office, is finished. Still missing, though, are regulatory clearances from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. As per the reports, once the clearances are obtained, the terminal is likely to open before May. The new terminal will facilitate both local and international shipments, including express couriers, pharmaceuticals, and other items, and can handle up to 2 lakh tonnes of cargo per month.
