Pune: More than 69.58 doses of covishield vaccine crore, with a weight of more than 19 lakh tons, has been transported from city airports despite infrastructure constraints between January and December 23 this year.
“Everyone, including airlines, officials and cargo handlers, has played an important role in transporting vaccines from Pune to various parts of the country,” said a senior airport official to Ti.
Transportation of the Covishield vaccine, which was produced by Pune-based Indian Serum Institute (SII), began in January this year, with the first consignment left Pune airport for Delhi on Spicejet flights and Air India.
Officials at Kool-Ex Cold Chain Limited – Companies in the Agreement with SII for Vaccine Transportation – Maintained that only small shipment from vaccines were sent by air, while large delivery was sent by road in the truck controlled by temperature.
“Small airport cargo holder area.
We have pushed to shift the place to a 2.5 acre plot belonging to the Indian Air Force.
The process is active, but takes the time.
However, regardless of constraints, we have managed to transport vaccines from Pune to domestic and international locations, “The official said.
In a previous conversation, Chairman of the Pune MP Committee and Airport Advisor, Girish Bapat said that the transfer of the cargo holder had reached the road barrier because the IAF asked for Rs 1.38 Crore as annual payment for the plot.
Bapat said this problem was referred to the Ministry of Defense and the Head of the Nitin Gadkari infrastructure panel.
With omicron cases increase, the amount intended for transportation can grow in the future.
“We will continue to do their best and facilitate transportation from the airport.
This is the main responsibility for us,” other airport officials said.