As part of its vision to make Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB/ BLR Airport) a successful cargo hub, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) recently opened India’s first on-Airport Public Bonded Warehouse.
Operated by Cargo Service Center (CSC), the 10,000 sq.ft warehouse facility will be under the jurisdiction of the City Commissionerate, Bengaluru Customs. This facility will reduce supply chain costs and facilitate trade at India’s IT hub and surrounding regions.
The Public Bonded Warehouse will help re-export of goods, long-term storage of bonded cargo, assist in partial clearances and allow value-added services such as labeling, packing and repacking services.
"At BIAL, our vision is to make BLR Airport a cargo hub, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge technology to deliver efficient operations. In order to simplify processes and meet customer demands with the help of key stakeholders, including the Bengaluru Customs, BIAL has taken this step to set up India’s first on-campus Public Bonded Warehouse. This demonstrates BIAL’s commitment to support the Airport cargo community, as well as bolster the growth of BLR Airport as a cargo hub,” said Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Strategy & Development Officer, BIAL.
Due to the presence of IT & BT companies, multinational companies and retail brands, Bengaluru handles a large volume of imports. The new facility will play a significant role in boosting the economy of the region, by improving trade and connecting markets around the world. BLR Airport is the busiest and most preferred cargo terminal for manufacturers in South India.
“We are thrilled to partner with BIAL as an operator of the new Public Bonded Warehouse at BLR Airport. CSC is the largest cargo service provider in India, with a presence in Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. We already have a footprint at BLR Airport as an operator of the Cargo Village at the Airport. BLR Airport has tremendous potential to become the cargo hub for South India, and at CSC, we are excited to be part of this transformation,” said Tushar Jani, Group Chairman, CSC.
BLR Airport processed 99,154 MT of cargo in the first five months between April and August 2020, recording a 92% growth in Cargo Air Traffic Movements. It offers the largest air cargo terminal in South India, with a handling capacity of 570,000 MT and an average travel time of nine hours from major manufacturing clusters across South India. BLR Airport is emerging as the preferred cargo gateway for industries from the region, making it the third busiest Cargo Airport in the Country and the busiest in South India.
To bring further efficiencies into Cargo operations, BIAL recently announced the implementation of the Air Cargo Community System (ACS) to streamline the air logistics supply chain. This digital platform will enable seamless collaboration between all stakeholders in the supply chain to deliver superior and efficient cargo operations at BLR Airport.
