President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has inaugurated the new cargo terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA), with three times the capacity of the previous facility.
The newly inaugurated cargo terminal has a capacity to handle 120,000 tonnes of cargo per year. The cargo terminal is two times larger than the old cargo terminal used at the airport, which handles 50,000 tonnes of cargo per year.
VIA has been providing cargo handling services for 40 years. The development of the new cargo terminal began due to the increase in the volume of cargo compared to the small existing terminal.
The development of the new cargo terminal began in 2018. The project has been completed with the construction of a three-storey office building for employees and cargo service users. The office building houses 55 offices for airline cargo and cargo brokers.
The new cargo terminal uses the latest in modern equipment. The old terminal consists of five X-ray machines and two electronic platforms while the new terminal has nine X-ray machines and seven electronic platforms.
MACL stated that the new terminal will have export loading platforms and cargo lifters. Arrangements have been made to expand the cargo service and equip the terminal with environmentally friendly and sustainable electronic vehicles.
With the new terminal, a special cargo harbor or port has been built to load goods to seafaring vessels. Four cranes have been installed in the area to facilitate the loading and unloading of goods by sea.