Priority check-ins for medical cargo, others put in queue

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:5.4.2020

International flight operations have been suspended, but the air cargo complex at Chennai airport remains abuzz with activity as there is an increase in handling of consignments of medical supplies brought in by freighters from abroad and other parts of the country.

Air customs has posted staff to clear these import and export consignments on priority. The consignments that have been cleared at air cargo terminal and foreign post office terminal include foreign parcels of lifesaving medicines, N-95 masks and thermometers. In addition, Covid-19 test kits, research and development material relating to these test kits, components for manufacturing of ventilators and defibrillator, medical gloves, masks and digital contactless thermometers have also arrived in the past few days.

Shipments containing critical components for manufacturing medical equipment in are being cleared on priority basis, said a customs official.

The cargo complex has also begun handling export cargo of medical supplies as India has promised aid to SAARC nations to fight Covid-19 spread. On April 2, a special Air force flight carrying medicines and medical equipment left for Maldives.

Though working with skeletal staff, dedicated personnel are being deployed to handle the consignments containing essential goods and other items required for fighting spread of Covid-19, as and when they arrive.

Customs authorities said people can contact additional commissioner of customs Rajiv Kumar at 9323975859 for air cargo related issues and joint commissioner of customs Eswar Reddy at 9444242129 for queries related to courier and foreign post.

Meanwhile, the shutdown has impacted movement of consignments containing non-essential goods that arrive by scheduled cargo flights from abroad. These goods are stuck at the terminal, sometimes after clearance, because importers either take time to get it cleared by completing payment of duty and other formalities or due to restrictions on movement of trucks carrying non-essential items.

An airport official said that cargo terminal has several unclaimed consignments. Goods like electronics, components and other items are piled up because firms are not moving it out because of restrictions on movement of trucks and nonavailability of drivers.

The trucks are arriving once in two to three days to take the consignments to the firms which had imported them. “In some cases, drivers are stuck at their native places,” said an import agent.

An airport official said, “Consignments containing non-essential items are stranded because the importer is not in a hurry to get them out because many firms are not working.”