CHENNAI: An interactive Cloud based bonded warehouse Module to bring about complete coordination between the importing agencies and the Customs was launched at the Chennai Customs House recently by Ms Vanaja N Sarna Member Central Board of Excise and Customs.
With the launching of the system for the first time near the Chennai Port, gone are the days when customs officials have to resort to physical checking of the time expired cargo using voluminous files.
At the end of such tedious exercise the cargo will largely remain untraceable.
It was realized that digitization will go a long way to facilitate the warehouse keepers to get to know about the status of the cargo in view of the enormity of the operations. To obviate the difficulties for the trade, the Central Board of Excise and Customs through an amended regulation for the warehouses in May 2016 mandated that all warehouses licensees should maintain computer system, photocopiers, scanners and printers. The system came into vogue from June last year.
The systems individually operated by the warehouse licensees at the end of the warehouses have now been linked and made inter active with the launch of interactive automated cloud based bonded warehouse module. This will reduce keying in the same data multiple times. The implementation of the system will enhance the chances of realizing locked up Government revenue in time expired cargo. Once the software developed worked well in Chennai Customs House, there is a possibility to integrate it nationwide through ICES.
The advantages of cloud based system include transformation of voluminous manual data to digital mode. The robust customs data base is digitally linking it to all stakeholders making it possible for the real time monitoring of goods. An advance auto alert for time expired bonded cargo is also built into the system.
The system ensures quick realisation of Governmental revenue, reduces congestion in bonded warehouses, plugging of leakage, wastage and pilferage, reduces congestion in bonded warehouses and enhances ease of doing business for warehouse keepers. It can also easily identify and dispose of perishable cargo.
All the details of the imported goods including the bill of lading type of goods and when it will expire in terms of warehouse rules and regulations can be fed into the computer. The importer and exporters are allowed ninety days free time in the ware house and after this period have to pay interest.
Source: Dailyshippingtimes.com
