Secretary for Civil Aviation, Ashok Lavasa, while reviewing the functioning of Airports Authority of India, gave direction for drawing plans to develop domestic cargo terminals throughout the country.

Highlighting the importance of air cargo infrastructure in the country which is a barometer of global economic health, Ashok Lavasa mandated that the works shall be in sync with the government's plan for development of air cargo facilities throughout the country and development of national logistics network for faster movement of cargo goods.

The ministry of civil aviation believes that improving efficiency in the existing infrastructure is a continuous process, therefore , addition of infrastructure shall also be planned and put in place where ever feasible. This is in continuation with the recent development of cargo terminal buildings at Coimbatore and Trichy. Similar facilities shall be established at other airports also.

Airports Authority of India informed that they had recently established cargo facility at Mangalore airport with an area of 1400 sqm for international cargo and 1100 sqm for domestic cargo thereby providing an annual holding capacity of 5000 tonnes for international import cargo, 13000 tonnes for export cargo, 18000 tonnes for domestic in-bound cargo and 21000 tonnes for domestic out-bound cargo. AAI informed that in all 24 airports have been identified for development of such domestic cargo terminals.