After the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), based on dna's report, declared MIAL charging Rs300 per shipment for software fees as illegal, the customs agents, who are involved in the work of shipping cargo, now want whatever they have paid so far to be refunded to them.
After the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), based on dna's report, declared MIAL charging Rs300 per shipment for software fees as illegal, the customs agents, who are involved in the work of shipping cargo, now want whatever they have paid so far to be refunded to them.
Levying of this charge had resulted in the end consumer facing the brunt ultimately as the cost of couriering parcels had gone up.
Industry insiders claim that about 4,500-5,000 shipments are made daily from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, which translates into a windfall of crores of rupees for the airport operator.
"We were forced to shell out money by MIAL for the GMAX software, even though, practically, there was no value addition or increase in efficiency. We want MIAL to refund us the money," said one of the leading cargo forwarders based in Andheri (East).
"Even though the charges levied have been declared illegal by a government regulator, we are yet to hear anything on our refunds," said another cargo forwarder.
Without saying anything on refund, a MIAL official said GMAX is an IT initiative for facilitating digital interaction within all stakeholders and is a non-aeronautical service. "Honoring instructions of AERA, Kale Logistics (the third party providing the service) has stopped charging for the service. However, in order to maintain continuity in this initiative, respecting the Centre's initiatives on 'ease of doing business', Kale has not discontinued the service," the official said.
In a recent order, an officer on special duty from AERA, Radhika R, had said as the software levies are for enhancement of cargo terminal processing, which is an aeronautical service, they should be determined by the regulator.
"AERA has ordered that the charges, presently being levied by the service provider, M/s Kale Logistics, without prior approval of the authority, are illegal and should be stopped with immediate effect," the letter reads.
MIAL had said it will appeal against the AERA order.
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