THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: International couriers might reach swiftly in the state capital and adjoining district soon as the dedicated terminal will resume functioning at the airport. Airport director George Tharakan said a new international courier terminal is ready for operations and awaiting mandatory clearances from customs authorities. “We hope to commission the terminal in a month or two,” he said. Industry sources said international courier services were done through the airport here in 2006-12, but was suspended owing to allegations. After that, the couriers to Thiruvananthapuram and nearby districts were handled mainly through Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru airports.
“At present, it would take at least six to seven days for an international courier to reach the destination here. Once the terminal becomes operational, we could reduce the delivery time to two days,” said All Kerala Customs Authorised Courier Association president Hari Raj. The new Rs 1.25 crore, 700-square metre facility is coming up near the international terminal building at Chakkai. Airports Authority of India's subsidiary AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services would be operating it.
Mr Raj said that the new facility would be useful for Keralites working abroad to send gifts to their families or friends here as well as international online shopping portals. Items costing up to Rs 5,000 attract no duty. Traders could also make use of the facility for sending trade samples to foreign clients. “Earlier when the international courier facility was available in Thiruvananthapuram airport till 2012, there used to be up to 150 tons of items daily. We hope to revive that quantum of operation once the international courier service resumes,” said Mr Raj. Meanwhile, construction of an international cargo terminal of Airports Authority of India is also progressing. A new Common User Domestic Cargo Terminal (CUDCT) was commissioned at the airport in October.
