Question : Cargo Hubs

(a) whether steps are being taken to aid the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 targets of achieving cargo movement of 10 MT by 2020 and make India more competitive in global cargo space, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the growth of air cargo in India in 2017-18;

(c) whether the Government has identified the cities to setup more cargo hubs in various States of the country including North Eastern Region;

(d) if so, whether any assessment has been made regarding the cost of setting up of each cargo hub;

(e) if so, the location-wise details thereof;

(f) the number of cargo hubs which are functional at present; and

(g) whether the Government is procuring new cargo aircrafts and if so, the details thereof?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) To achieve its vision statement contained in the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 to increase air cargo volumes to 10 MT by 2027, the Government has taken various steps which include facilitating enhancement and upgrading of physical and digital infrastructure for domestic and international air cargo at airports and at off-airport facilities such as Air Freight Stations, transshipment hubs, dedicated Air Freight Corridors with other countries, streamlining regulatory processes with the adoption of better technologies aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and ease of doing business, and laying down service level standards for air cargo stakeholders for reducing dwell time.

(b) Air cargo handled at airports in India grew by 12.7% annually to 33,57,058 MT in FY 2017-18.;

(c) to (f) All major airports in India, including joint venture airports at Bengaluru, Cochin, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, have earmarked air cargo facilities and function as air cargo hubs. AAI Cargo Logistic & Allied Services Company Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Airports Authority of India, has created dedicated Common User facilities for domestic air cargo at twenty-three airports across India, and for international air cargo and courier/ express at twenty airports. To cater to the needs of the North-Eastern Region, domestic and international air cargo facilities have been created at Guwahati and domestic air cargo facilities at Bagdogra. Since these facilities have been set up over the last many years, their costs which include those for upgradation of both physical and soft infrastructure vary from place to place. Setting up of air cargo facilities at various locations is a commercial decision taken by airport operators based on various parameters including the regional trade interest and cargo potential.;

(g) No, Madam.