Mangalore: J.T. Radhakrishna, director of the Mangalore International airport announced that, full fledged domestic air cargo operations will begin domestic cargo operations through a private agency next April.  . “This would give industries and traders an opportunity to send and receive cargo within India through cargo flights,” he said.  AAI has permitted four airports in South India — Mangalore, Trichy, Visakhapatnam and Chennai — to have domestic cargo terminals.

At present, domestic cargo being handled at the airport terminal building at Kenjar by the AAI consist of parcels and postal articles only.

The director said that the AAI has invited e-bids for operation and maintenance of “common user domestic air cargo terminal”. The bids would be opened on January 8, 2015. “Domestic cargo service is scheduled to begin in April 2015, after the tender process,” he said.

Domestic cargo would be handled at a building close to the terminal building at Kenjar. This building, which was called Dakkan Park, with 3.05 acres of private land, was handed over to the AAI by the government sometime ago.

The  private agency selected would be exempted from paying 13 per cent royalty of the total business to the AAI for two years to attract more cargo to the airport. With this, the agency was expected to put an extra effort to attract cargo.

International cargo would be continued to be handled at the old terminal building at Bajpe by the Airports Authority of India.