The Hindu Business Line : Kolkata Customs' new system to clear exim cargo

KOLKATA Customs will soon be implementing a new `Risk Management System', along with the facility of digital signature, for easy and fast customs clearance both for import and export cargo.

Talking to Business Line here today on the sidelines of a workshop on `Commercial Frauds', organised by the Customs to commemorate International Customs Day, Mr Subrata Basu, Chief Commissioner, said the system will help speed up clearances in a big way.

He said the new system would be programmed to seamlessly create an accreditation module to separate exporters with good track record from those who do not, for swift and hassle-free assessments. The system will manage the risk efficiently through online tracking, and in the process help minimise the interface between customs officers and exporters for achieving faster "dwell time" (time taken to complete assessment after submission of documents).

Commenting on the levels of computerisation already achieved at Kokata Customs, Mr Basu said, "even though we started a little late, we have now caught up with Mumbai". On the improvements being made on the infrastructure front for online tracking, he said orders for 11 line printers have already been placed, and all old computers shall be replaced with new ones.

The proposal for necessary sanctions has already been sent. The proposal for a new service centre is also being prepared.

Process re-engineering at Kolkata Customs is now being done along with computerisation, and according to Mr Basu, at present 95 per cent of the import documents and 99.9 per cent of export documents are processed on the system.

An efficient Message Exchange System was also being developed to exchange key information between the department and different trade partners like the port, airport, banks, RBI, DGFT, CHAs, importers and exporters.

Addressing the workshop, Mr Basusaid the era of confrontation was now over..

Admitting that many faults are still waiting to be addressed by the department, Mr A. Bhattacharya, Commissioner of Customs (Port), said the past enmity between department and trade (a case of mutual suspicion) was now over, "and now we need to look at complaints immediately".

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