Utilize grounded planes for transporting cargo: Gadkari

Nagpur: Mooting an idea that can be a win-win situation for all, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has suggested that grounded passenger aircraft, which are presently not being used due to restrictions in view of the Covid pandemic, should be used for transporting air cargo.
Interacting with air cargo agents through a webinar, the member of Parliament from the city said these aircraft are lying idle at various airports.“Initiative needs to be taken on whether these aircraft could be converted to carry cargo. The government should grant quick permissions and come out with a policy in this regard,” he said.
According to him, in the present situation, transporting cargo within the country has become unviable for farmers and businessmen because of higher expenses. “Only if the transportation of goods through air is made cheaper, the logistical problems being faced now can be reduced,” said Gadkari. There are innumerable opportunities in export sector and people should explore them, he said.
Gadkari, who is also minister for medium and small scale industries (MSME), said government will help fisheries sector to tap its true potential of Rs6 lakh crore from the present Rs1 lakh crore.
“Nagpur’s oranges, Jalgaon’s banana and Bihar’s litchi could be transported to various parts of the country through cargo planes, but for that the existing charges need to be reduced so that farmers and businessmen could afford it,” said Gadkari.
In India, prawns are sold at Rs700 a kg while in countries like Dubai it costs around Rs5,000. “If these are exported through air cargo, the country would gain substantially,” he said.
Reiterating his stand on use of water transport, the minister said it is the most cheap medium of transportation.
“In comparison to other countries, our cargo business through aircraft is costly affair. It’s the reason the business has not grown. There is need for complete overhaul in this sector to make it affordable,” he said.
“At present, cargo flights take off only from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, whereas there are several airports in the country which remain underutilized. Even if cargo planes start operating from other airports on a regular basis, it would help boost trade,” he said.