Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 24: The airports authority of India (AAI) has urged the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa (IPICOL) to open a sales tax office at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) to break redtapism involved in receiving cargo consignments.
The airports regulatory body has been assessing the possibility of setting up a full-fledged cargo complex at city airport in the next few months. A preliminary meeting was held at airport director’s office Tuesday in which stakeholders like traders’ body and airlines’ representatives discussed the issue threadbare.
Sources said currently people have to make rounds of sales tax office in the city before obtaining their consignments from small cargo offices of the airlines. Currently, three carriers are operating from BPIA – Air India, IndiGo and GoAir – but due of poor infrastructure, adequate boost is yet to be given to cargo operations.
“I have requested IPICOL chairman-cum-managing director to set up a sales tax office at the airport for the convenience of people,” airport director Sharad Kumar said.
Notably, once the four-storied AAI building is completed, the existing administrative block would be shifted there. The new building is being built at a cost of Rs 12.70crore, having 2400 sq mt built-up area.
Besides, AAI authorities have asked airlines’ representatives to open a common user terminal kiosk at airport so that people can collect their cargo shipments from a single counter, irrespective of the service provider.
