Vadodara: An air cargo shipment facility is expected to be inaugurated at Vadodara Airport within the next month, Vadodara MP Dr. Hemang Joshi said during a meeting of the Vadodara Airport Advisory Committee. He also said efforts are underway to restore domestic flight routes that have been discontinued.

According to discussions at the meeting, the Gujarat government is expected to provide a special allocation for enhancing facilities at Vadodara Airport, which serves the wider Central Gujarat region. Land acquisition for the airport’s overall expansion and development is currently in progress.

Dr. Joshi said the cargo facility is particularly important for exporters in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and power equipment, which have a significant presence in Vadodara and surrounding districts. He added that the project is awaiting final approval, after which the cargo shipment facility is expected to become operational within a month.

On international connectivity, the MP said Vadodara Airport already has the necessary infrastructure to handle international flight operations. However, airlines will need to show interest in launching services. He noted that global economic uncertainties and delays in aircraft deliveries have affected airline expansion plans, resulting in a shortage of available aircraft despite the growing number of airports in India.

During the meeting, Dr. Joshi also questioned a civil aviation security official who joined virtually from Ahmedabad over delays in granting approvals. He expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as prolonged approval timelines and urged officials to conduct more frequent visits to Vadodara Airport.

The meeting was attended by Airport Director M.S.I. Dawood, Air Force Chief Operations Officer Sachin Khengar, CISF representatives, officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), station managers of Air India and IndiGo, and members of the Airport Advisory Committee. DeshGujarat