**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 64 in Lok Sabha, concerning the cargo terminal at Rajahmundry Airport. It addresses questions about the status of the cargo terminal, air cargo volumes of perishable goods, cold storage facilities, coordination with APEDA, and government plans to reduce air freight charges. The response is dated January 29, 2026, and provides information for the financial year 2024-2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Cargo Terminal Status:**
* AAICLAS has established a dedicated domestic air cargo facility at Rajahmundry Airport.
* International flight operations are not currently available at the airport.
* **Air Cargo Volumes:**
* No movement of shrimp (aqua products) or nursery plants via air cargo from Rajahmundry/Godavari region occurred during the Financial Year 2024-2025.
* **Cold Storage Facilities:**
* The document doesn't mention cold storage facilities for floriculture products from Kadiyam nurseries.
* **Capacity and Utilization:**
* The existing domestic air cargo facility has an installed annual handling capacity of 17,200 MT.
* The cargo throughput recorded during FY 2024-25 was 25 MT, with a capacity utilization of approximately 0.15%.
* Development of additional cargo-related facilities is not under consideration due to present traffic levels and low capacity utilization.
* **APEDA Coordination:**
* APEDA has taken steps to promote GI-tagged products from Andhra Pradesh.
* APEDA organized an Export-Oriented Capacity Development Programme to encourage exporters.
* APEDA facilitates regular export of Banganapalle mangoes and Guntur Sannam Chilli from Andhra Pradesh.
* **Air Freight Charges:**
* Air cargo rates and charges are determined competitively based on market dynamics by various service suppliers.
* The Government aims to provide a suitable policy and regulatory regime for infrastructure development, simplification of procedures, technological upgradation, and deployment of skilled manpower for efficient and cost-effective air cargo services.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers of the Godavari Delta**
* **Impact:** The farmers are affected by the government's approach to providing a regulatory regime that promotes infrastructure development, simplification of procedures, technological advancement, and skilled labor, all in the interest of efficient and affordable air freight services.
* **Action Required:** No specific action is stated, but presumably, farmers would need to engage with existing infrastructure and services to take advantage of any improvements in air cargo services.
**Stakeholder: Exporters of GI-tagged Products from Andhra Pradesh**
* **Impact:** The stakeholders are impacted by APEDA's efforts to promote GI-tagged products, which include organizing capacity development programs.
* **Action Required:** Engage with APEDA's programs and opportunities to export products in the global marketplace.
**Stakeholder: Airlines, Airports, Freight Forwarders, Customs House Agents, and Transport Providers**
* **Impact:** These stakeholders are directly affected by the government’s policies and regulatory regime, which aims to streamline processes, upgrade technology, and develop infrastructure for efficient and cost-effective air cargo services.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the government's policies and adapt business practices to align with the objective of improving air cargo services.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The primary ministry responsible for the subject matter, answering questions regarding the Rajahmundry Airport cargo terminal.
Rajahmundry Airport: The central location and subject of the policy regarding its cargo terminal.
Airports Authority of India Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited (AAICLAS): The entity that established the domestic air cargo facility at Rajahmundry Airport.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA): The authority coordinating to promote air export of GI-tagged products and promote export oriented capacity development.
Andhra Pradesh: The state where Rajahmundry Airport is located, making it relevant to the geographical scope of the policy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 64
th
(To be answered on the 29 January 2026)
CARGO TERMINAL AT RAJAHMUNDRY AIRPORT
64. DR. D. PURANDESWARI
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) the status of the dedicated cargo terminal at Rajahmundry Airport in
Andhra Pradesh to handle the export of perishable goods;
(b) the details of the volume of shrimp (aqua products) and nursery plants
transported via air cargo from the Godavari region during the last financial year;
(c) the measures taken to provide cold storage facilities at the airport for the
floriculture products from Kadiyam nurseries;
(d) the status of coordination with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority (APEDA) to promote air export of
Gl-tagged products from the region; and
(e) the details of the Government's plan to reduce the air freight charges for the
farmers of the Godavari delta?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) Airports Authority of India Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company
Limited (AAICLAS) has established a dedicated domestic air cargo facility at
Rajahmundry Airport. Presently, international flight operations are not available
from the Airport.
(b) As per information received from IndiGo, which undertakes self-handling of the
cargo terminal at Rajahmundry Airport, there was no movement of shrimp (aqua
products) or nursery plants via air cargo from Rajahmundry/Godavari region
during the Financial Year 2024-2025.(c) The existing domestic air cargo facility at Rajahmundry Airport has an installed
annual handling capacity of 17,200 MT, while the cargo throughput recorded
during FY 2024–25 was 25 MT, indicating a capacity utilization of
approximately 0.15%. In view of the present traffic levels and low capacity
utilisation, the requirement for development of additional cargo-related facilities
at the airport is not under consideration.
(d) The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA) has taken several steps for promotion of APEDA scheduled GI-tag
products from Andhra Pradesh. APEDA has organized Export-Oriented Capacity
Development Programme to encourage exporters to explore array of products
including GI products for promotion in the global market place. Further, APEDA
facilitates regular export of Banganapalle mangoes and Guntur Sannam Chilli
from Andhra Pradesh to different destinations with different modal transports
including air transport.
(e) Rates and charges on air cargo are applied by various service suppliers, including
airlines, airports, freight forwarders/ customs house agents and first and last mile
transport providers. These are competitively determined based on market
dynamics. The Government's approach is to provide suitable policy and
congenial regulatory regime, for the encouragement of infrastructure
development, simplification of procedures, technological upgradation, and
deployment of skilled manpower, all aimed at efficient and cost-effective air
cargo services delivery.
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