CONSTRUCTION of a cargo terminal at Surat Airport, 250 kilometres up the coast from Mumbai, is expected to commence in some time in the New Year, said a spokesman for the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

    "Things are moving in a positive direction. We expect the work to begin for phase one of the cargo terminal at Surat before mid-2012," said AAI spokesman.

    The cargo terminal plan, first mooted in 2008, envisions capacity for the parking of 50 aircraft at a time, with hangars equipped to service them," he said.

    The airport has 317 hectares (783 acres) of unused land available, but is needed, reports London's International Freighting Weekly. "The moment the state government gives another 650 hectares, the work will start," said Surat MP Tushar Chaudhary.

(Source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)