Odisha’s Biju Patnaik airport to launch international cargo operations

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 4:

Less than a year after starting domestic cargo operation back in April 2016, Odisha Government today appeared positive about starting international cargo handling services in Biju Patnaik International Airport of Bhubaneswar.

Speaking to reporters, Principal Secretary of MSME Department Laxmi Narayan Gupta today said that the State Government is hopeful of receiving necessary approvals from concerned authorities.

According to reports, the services are likely to start as early as this month – subject to receiving an approval from Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance.

Necessary preparations for the operations are already underway. This facility will help draw international air service providers to the airport, said Director of BPIA Ramaswamy Mahalingam.

He further added that the initial international cargo operations will begin from the domestic cargo hub.

Well over 5,000 tonnes of cargo have been handled under the domestic cargo operations at the airport ever since it started the cargo service.