The x-ray scanner in the export cargo terminal of Tiruchi international airport is said to be 14 years old. It frequently malfunctions and has not been working for the past few days. The absence of an alternative machine at the export air cargo terminal, which witnesses brisk movement of freight every day to various overseas destinations, is causing concern to the users.
Airport authorities have shifted a machine from the passenger terminal building as a stop gap measure to scan export cargo dispatched through foreign airlines, say airport sources.
A request for a new scanner or a spare machine to act as a back up to the existing one was made quite some time ago to the authorities concerned. Nevertheless, a new machine is still awaited, say airport sources.
Ever since the export cargo terminal was commissioned at the Tiruchi international airport in 2011, freight movement to overseas destinations from there has witnessed a steady rise.
Perishable commodities including assorted vegetables account for the bulk of export shipments dispatched through overseas passenger flights in the existing belly space.
On average around 20 tonnes of export cargo is dispatched every day with the volume rising further on Thursdays and Fridays, say the sources.
With the bulk of export cargo being perishables, it becomes all the more worrisome for the stakeholders and users if the freight is not dispatched on time due to scanner problems.
Sources said the scanner had not been functioning since August 12.
Exporters strongly feel that the fast growing and profit making Tiruchi international airport definitely warrants a new scanner at the export cargo terminal or an alternative machine to act as a back up, in view of the rising freight volume.
Source: thehindu.com
