Customs dept launches online facility for documents clearance

In an attempt to boost imports and exports, Punjab's Customs department has launched electronic data interchange (EDI) system, which will facilitate faster clearance of consignments.

"The importers and exporters will no longer require submission of their documents such as entry bill, shipping bill etc manually. The whole process will now be completed online, which will lead to faster clearance of import and export consignments," Customs Department (Ludhiana) Joint Commissioner Rajiv Kapoor said here.

The documents would now be filed at inland container depot of Container Corporation of India Ltd (Concor), he said.

Under the EDI system, Customs department would be linked online with banks where Custom Duty and drawback claims could be deposited, he said, adding "this system will also ensure transparency and a check on possible frauds".

He said unless there is a need of seeking clarification from importers and exporters, all the papers would be cleared on the same day of filing by the customs department.About 700 entry bills and 2900 shipping bills are filed every month at dry ports in Ludhiana. The total revenue collection of Ludhiana customs department has increased by 61 per cent to Rs 321.55 crore during 2005-06 as compared to Rs 199.96 crore the previous fiscal.