Surat: A meeting between the chairman of the Airports Authority of India, Vipin Kumar, and office-bearers of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) was held on Thursday at the SGCCI office.
SGCCI put forward demands relating to Surat International Airport and improvements. SIA director A N Sharma and other AAI officials were also present.
SGCCI president Vijay Mewavala emphasized that Surat is a hub for MMF textiles, with an annual textile industry turnover of Rs 1 lakh crore.
He pointed out that all diamonds from Surat are exported via Mumbai and seafood worth Rs 2,000 croreis exported from the region annually. Significant amounts of vegetables, fruits and perishables are also exported from South Gujarat.

While SIA has domestic cargo facilities, the absence of an international cargo terminal forces industrialists and traders from Surat and South Gujarat to rely on Mumbai or Ahmedabad for exports. This adds logistics costs and delays.
"There is an urgent need for an international cargo terminal at the Surat airport. As daily international flights to Dubai and Bangkok operate from Surat, AAI should establish an international cargo terminal at the earliest," Mevawala said.
The e-visa facility is also needed at SIA, the SGCCI stated. Many textile and diamond traders get e-visas, but the lack the facility at SIA causes difficulties. A request was also made to expedite the parallel taxiway.
Other improvements sought were upgrading the simple approach lighting system at SIA to CAT-I approach lighting, extending the runway, renovation of the old terminal, including SIA as a point of call in bilateral agreements and providing accommodation facilities for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel within the airport premises.
"South Gujarat will grow rapidly, leading to the establishment of new industries once the international cargo terminal is established at SIA," added Mevawala.
The AAI chairman discussed these issues with the SGCCI committee and promised them prompt action.