India’s aviation watchdog has ordered Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) to stop levying “illegal” consignment software charges of INR 300 (US$4.80) per entry on as many as 4,500-5,000 shipments are made daily by freight forwarders at CSIA. The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) said in a letter to CSIA that the software levies are for enhancement of cargo terminal processing, which is an aeronautical service and hence should be determined by the regulator.

“AERA has ordered that the charges presently being levied for the service provider, M/s Kale Logistics, without prior approval of the authority are illegal and should be stopped with immediate effect,” said AERA official Radhika R. in the letter, according to Indian news website dna.

Software solutions provider, Kale Logistics which provided the GMAX e-freight service out of which the charges are stemming from, was awarded the concession to run the e-freight portal by the airport’s operator – Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL).