For over seven months now, the electronic data interface (EDI) system, which facilitates smooth movement of cargo traffic, has not been activated at the Raja Sansi International Airport, Amritsar.
The system was announced with much fanfare at the airport in February this year. According to official sources, the delay has been caused by the central board of excise and customs (CBEC).
Sources reveal that a team of CBEC is yet to come for inspection at the airport. The ministry of finance had earlier given clearance to the customs department to install electronic data interface for speeding up the clearance of duty drawback claims filed by exporters. The modern EDI system will help exporters in easily accessing their shipping and transaction bills online, as well as the objections made by the custom officials regarding their duty drawbacks. The airport has allocated a special room for setting up of the EDI system, but things have not moved forward much.
Talking to FE, airport director at Amritsar International Airport VSP Chinson said, ?After the EDI system gets operational, exporters from Punjab and Chandigarh will benefit much. They will no longer need to take their goods all the way from the region to Delhi . Besides, cargo is taken by road from the region can be shifted to the airport.?
Meanwhile, cargo traffic at Amritsar airport has increased at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 55.71% during the last seven years, from 125 tonne in FY2002 to 2,174 tonne in FY2007.
The cargo terminal at airport is expected to handle approximately 3,500 tonne of cargo this financial year. Chinson stated from April to August in FY 2009-2010, there had been a decline of 15.2% in CAGR. The international and domestic cargo traffic recorded at the airport this financial year is 944 tonne. The figure stood at 1,113 tonne during same period in FY 2008-09. Punjab has set up a modern perishable cargo complex here for export of vegetables, fruits and other items.