Parliament Question: Establishment of Air Cargo Terminals

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 753 th (To be answered on the 4 December 2025) ESTABLISHMENT OF AIR CARGO TERMINALS

753. SMT SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government proposes to establish dedicated air cargo terminals or cold-chain facilities at Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda airports to support agricultural, horticultural and fishery exports from Odisha and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of cargo volumes handled by the said airports during the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25, airport-wise;

(c) whether the Government has received any proposals from farmer producer groups or MSMEs of Balangir and Sonepur for using air cargo services under the Krishi UDAN scheme and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the measures taken by the Government to encourage air transportation of high-value perishable products such as aromatic rice, vegetables, fishery products and handloom-based goods from Odisha? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited (AAICLAS) has established dedicated domestic and international air cargo facilities at Bhubaneswar Airport, along with cold storage facilities to support agricultural, horticultural and fishery exports from Odisha. The Domestic Air Cargo Facility has an annual handling capacity of 22,700 MT, while the International Air Cargo Facility has a capacity of 4,600 MT. At Jharsuguda Airport, air cargo operations are presently facilitated by the airlines through the existing passenger terminal building.Development of additional cargo facilities depend on various factors such as airport development progress, increase in scheduled operations, handling capacity, growth in domestic cargo volumes and demand from airlines. The airlines initiate cargo operations based on their internal assessment of cargo potential, handling capabilities and overall commercial viability of operating from any airport.

(b) The air cargo volume handled at Bhubaneswar airport stood at 9,871 MT in 2023-24 and 9,086 MT in 2024-25. At Jharsuguda Airport, 95 MT of cargo was handled in 2023-24, while no cargo movement was recorded in 2024-25.

(c) & (d) Exporters, based on their commercial viability, requirements, utilize available air cargo facilities in accordance with various determining factors, including the destination country, airline operations, and the availability of direct or connecting services and to the intended destinations.

Futher, the existing facility at Bhubaneswar airport is capable of transporting of high- value perishable products such as aromatic rice, vegetables, fishery products and handloom-based goods from Odisha.

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