VIJAYAWADA: As the cargo terminal at Gannavaram airport is set to be functional from July 16, Shreepa Logistics, the agency in-charge of cargo is looking to rope in express courier services to speed up delivery of goods in 24 hours as against two to three days it takes now.
“If anyone in Vijayawada orders products online, it takes at least two days for them to reach the buyers. Now, that the cargo service is all set to become functional, express courier service companies can now export their products through us,” said Prashant Kumar, Shreepa’s operations manager, Vijayawada.
Till date, Shreepa has confirmed agreements with SpiceJet and Air India for cargo services, while talks are on with Indigo and TruJet. Airport Director G Madhusudhan Rao has confirmed that Indigo will operate flights from September from Gannavaram airport. “Indigo has commissioned Airbus to operate four large aircrafts from Gannavaram airport, starting September,” he said.
“If the agreements are confirmed, all the aircraft belonging to various airlines together can carry a combined cargo of 20 tonnes a day,” said Prashanth.Until now, products reach Hyderabad by air and thence to Vijayawada by road. Once cargo terminal at Gannavaram becomes functional, the products will reach Vijayawada by air and customers within 24 hours.
A source from a leading courier company told Express that the schedule for the flights that are to carry cargo must be after six in the evening as that is when express service cargo is transported.Since agricultural and aqua produce is currently being imported to Vijayawada via Hyderabad, Shreepa Logistics is planning to give them a boost. “We are in talks with aquaculture companies to export their products to international destinations once international flight services begin from Gannavaram,” said Prashanth.
However, the airport director did not confirm when international flight services are to start from Gannavaram as talks are going on with airlines in the Middle East. “I cannot confirm when flight services will start but I have had talks with a number of parties who are interested,” said Rao.
“We are waiting for international services to start since we are currently exporting aqua produce to Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and UAE through Hyderabad. If international services start from Gannavaram, we will benefit along with our farmers,” said G Rambabu, owner of Harika Sea Foods, which exports shrimp, sea tiger, sea white, and kingfish.
“We are also planning to invite farmers to seminars and educate them about the benefits of the cargo terminal. We will set up deals between them and buyers directly. This is vital as farmers are being cheated by middlemen. Now, we will help them avoid dealing with middlemen and directly do business with buyers from other states. Local products like Guntur chilli and mangoes will be sent to other states. Vegetables and fruit cultivators will be our prime focus,” said Rama Rao. “We intend to create a syndicate of these farmers to boost exports,” said Prashanth.
Efforts on to boost air cargo
“We will soon have a meeting with the Telangana and Andhra Courier Service Associations. This will be after deals are inked with airlines. We will discuss and decide the best schedule to transport express service cargo in flights,” he explained.
“If all the deals go through smoothly, Vijayawada people will soon be able to get their online orders delivered within 24 hours. We also intend to expand the reach of these services to regions which are within 200-300 km radius of the city,” said Venkata Rama Rao, Managing Director of Shreepa Logistics.
Complete airport runway expansion works by month-end
Vijayawada: Collector B Lakshmikanth has directed officials concerned to complete Gannavaram airport runway expansion works by month-end. Holding a review meeting with the officials here on Monday, he instructed the R&B AE to complete road works by Wednesday.