Business
Updated : Mar 19, 2018, 05:40 AM IST
The cargo exporters are showing disapproval against Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) move to charge Rs 300 per entry of data regarding export through their software system.
The exporters claim that the new development is being forced upon them by MIAL and would make the trade difficult as cargo trader community would have to shell our several crores rupees extra every year with "no benefit whatsoever to them".
However, a MIAL official said the service is not mandatory and trade members are not under any obligation to opt for it. "Those who may not want to be part of progress and pioneering initiatives are free to continue with manual operations which will increase transaction costs and opaqueness in supply chain which is a choice that they are free to make".
According to cargo handling agents operating from the city airport, MIAL has appointed Kale Logistics as a concessionaire. As per the newly placed system, after issuance of air way bill, the details are required to be filled in by the trader in the GMAX software. The agents are required to feed the data and pay Rs 285 plus taxes per transaction.
"The benefit for the trade is nil except for tracking shipment status which today is availed free of cost on the net or from the airlines. The system is designed for facilitation only for terminal operator and not to a user. Any technology introduced must lead to lowering of existing fee/charges, but this goes in the opposite direction." said a leading cargo handling agent.
"This will also at a later stage come in imports and further increase the transaction costs of the trade," said another cargo handling agent.
A MIAL official countered saying GMAX system offers single-window opportunity to connect and exchange digital information with custodians, airlines, forwarders, overseas agents, ground handling agents, customs, security agencies, and other authorities like BMC apart from saving a lot of time.