The Indian government’s plan to reduce free time given to cargo imports at airports has upset trade bodies. Under this policy, cargo clearance time will be reduced from October 1 fromfi ve days to two days.

The aim is to reduce congestion and upgrade the airports to international standards, but trade bodies say the current situation at cargo complexes like Mumbai are not conducive for such a reduction because of lack of infrastructure, handling equipmentand cumbersome procedures.

“We are all for reduction of dwell time, provided suffi cient infrastructure is put in place,” said Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) in New Delhi, who is also a member of the consultative group on civil aviation.

“The government’s concern to increase effi ciency is understandable. But it would be better to go into infrastructure issues being faced by the trade and alleviate it before going for any reduction in free time,” he added.