Hyderabad RGIA cargo: reefer truck, 4 lakh tons by FY31

Launch at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

GMR Aero Cargo and Logistics has launched what it called India’s first-of-its-kind airside reefer truck at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad. The company positioned the vehicle as a cold-chain solution for temperature-sensitive shipments moving on the airside. This matters because the most vulnerable part of a cold chain is often the short transit between a cargo terminal and the aircraft. A purpose-built airside reefer truck is intended to reduce temperature excursions during that window. The launch comes as Hyderabad pushes for a major scale-up in cargo volumes and infrastructure.

What an airside reefer truck is designed to do

According to GMR’s press release, the airside reefer truck has been engineered to maintain cold-chain integrity during airside movement. In practical terms, it is meant to keep shipments within required temperature ranges while they travel between the cargo terminal and aircraft. That function is relevant for export perishables, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature-sensitive products. The announcement frames the truck as an operational upgrade rather than a standalone move. It also aligns with broader plans to build dedicated facilities for perishables and improve end-to-end cargo handling.

Cargo capacity today and where Hyderabad wants to go

RGIA currently operates at a cargo capacity of 150,000 metric tons. GMR has outlined steps to expand that to 300,000 metric tons through new terminals and upgraded infrastructure. In addition, the airport is working toward an annual cargo handling capacity of nearly 4 lakh tons. These targets reflect a rapid growth phase in Hyderabad’s cargo ecosystem, driven substantially by international freight. The airport’s management has also referenced approvals for express and trans-shipment cargo, which can widen the range of cargo flows Hyderabad can handle.

What drove the expansion push

Hyderabad Air Cargo reported strong growth in calendar year 2024, with international cargo rising as much as 36%. Against that backdrop, GHIAL has said it expects to handle 180,000 tons of cargo in the current fiscal year, a 20% increase over the previous year. Management has indicated that a significant portion of this growth is expected to come from international shipping. Capacity constraints are a key reason airports add terminals, build specialised handling zones, and invest in cold-chain solutions. The reefer truck launch fits into this picture, because higher volumes typically increase the risk of congestion and time delays on the airside.

Terminal upgrades and new builds underway

GMR has detailed upgrades at the existing Cargo Terminal 1, including the addition of a state-of-the-art Domestic Terminal, an International Courier and Express Terminal, and a dedicated Export Perishables Terminal. Separately, construction of Cargo Terminal 2 is in progress, with Phase I expected to become operational this year. In a separate project timeline mentioned alongside capacity plans, Cargo Terminal 1 is expected to be expanded from 150,000 tons to 300,000 tons by around March 2026. Cargo Terminal 2 was also described as under construction, with a significant portion of work completed and a likely completion window of another nine months from that point of reference. Together, these projects are aimed at lifting throughput and reducing processing bottlenecks.

Warehousing and support infrastructure in the cargo village

Beyond terminals, GHIAL is developing an additional 20,000 square feet of warehousing space within the RGIA Cargo Village. Warehousing capacity is a critical enabler for faster movement, staging, and consolidation of shipments. It can also support express cargo operations, which depend on tight cut-offs and rapid sortation. For perishables, better warehousing can reduce dwell time and help maintain quality. The airport has also spoken about work related to a pack house and an irradiation facility for perishable cargo, with land allocated outside the airport and a central government grant sanctioned for the irradiation project.

Investment numbers and the FY31 capex roadmap

GHIAL has outlined multiple investment layers tied to airport expansion. Business Standard reported that GHIAL has drawn up a capital expenditure plan of nearly ₹14,000 crore to be implemented by 2030-31 (FY31) to expand RGIA, including terminal capacity, a new terminal, a second runway, road access, metro connectivity, parking, and cargo infrastructure. On the cargo side, GHIAL is investing ₹370 crore to strengthen logistics infrastructure and take cargo capacity close to 4 lakh tons annually. CEO Pradeep Panicker has broken this down as about ₹215 crore for expanding the existing cargo terminal and about ₹155 crore for developing the new terminal.

Key facts at a glance

Passenger growth context and why cargo also matters

GHIAL expects passenger traffic to rise to 50 million annually by FY31, up from 29 million in FY25. Large passenger expansions often come with parallel airside and landside upgrades that can benefit cargo too, such as runway capacity, road access, and terminal-area logistics. But cargo growth has its own requirements, including temperature-controlled handling, express capabilities, and specialised export zones. The airport’s stated focus on dedicated perishables infrastructure and cold-chain movement indicates cargo is being treated as a strategic growth segment.

What to watch next

The immediate operational milestones include Phase I of Cargo Terminal 2 becoming operational this year, and the new terminal being completed around May and becoming fully operational by June or July, as stated by GHIAL’s CEO. The Cargo Terminal 1 expansion is also underway, with a referenced target of reaching 300,000 tons by around March 2026. Alongside physical infrastructure, the progress of the irradiation facility and pack house development will be important for the perishables ecosystem. For stakeholders in logistics, pharmaceuticals, and agri-exports, these steps will shape how reliably Hyderabad can scale temperature-sensitive cargo flows.