Surat : New Airport Terminal Takes Flight, But Goods Stay Grounded

Surat: Amidst the fanfare of Prime Minister Modi’s inauguration of Surat airport new terminal on December 17, whispers of disappointment hang heavy in the air. The Domestic Cargo Terminal (DCT), operational for four years now, stands as a stark reminder of unfulfilled promises, handling a mere 10-14% of its 50,000 metric ton capacity.

“From January to November, the DCT barely moved 4,929 metric tons,” sighs a local industrialist, pointing to the abysmal monthly figures: 565 MT in March, 661 MT in April, and a paltry 379 MT in November. “The talk was of Surat soaring as a cargo hub,” he adds, “but the company running the show seems content to let it sit on the runway.”

Industry insiders blame AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Limited (AICLAS), the AAI subsidiary operating the DCT, for its lackluster performance. “No dialogue, no meetings with associations,” laments a diamond trader. “They built a state-of-the-art terminal, strong rooms, cold storage, the whole shebang, but they forgot how to engage with the very businesses they were supposed to serve.”

The consequences are stark. Surat, a diamond and textile powerhouse, sees its industries increasingly divert to Ahmedabad for air cargo needs. “It’s absurd,” says a spice exporter. “We have a facility right here, built for us, yet we’re forced to go elsewhere.”

The 1,400 sq. meter DCT, built at a cost of Rs 13 crore, stands as a monument to missed opportunity. The monthly target of 1,000 MT remains a distant dream, a constant reminder of the potential left untapped.

Even airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, allocated dedicated space at the DCT, feel the sting of underutilization. SpiceJet, once the go-to carrier for Surat’s precious cargo, now sees their high-value boxes collecting dust.

“As the euphoria of the new terminal fades, Surat’s cargo dreams face a harsh reality check. The question remains: will AICLAS wake up to the opportunity before it turns into a costly white elephant, or will Surat’s air cargo aspirations continue to take off from neighboring runways?” said an airport activist.