India air cargo network needs 7.63 bln rupee - minister

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India needs to invest 7.63 billion rupees to expand the basic network to increase air cargo in the coming five years, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told parliament on Thursday.

The total cargo traffic in all airports increased 21.5 percent in 2006/07 from 15.6 percent in the year-ago period, he said.

India's air cargo has grown by about 19 percent, against 10.3 percent and 9.2 percent growth in shipping and railways cargo respectively during the last three years, Patel said.