INDIAN Customs, counting on duplicating the success enjoyed in Mumbai at speeding customs clearance, now hope to extend the experience inland by appealing to stakeholders in the hinterland to cooperate with its new direct inland delivery' (DID) programme
INDIAN Customs, counting on duplicating the success enjoyed in Mumbai at speeding customs clearance, now hope to extend the experience inland by appealing to stakeholders in the hinterland to cooperate with its new direct inland delivery' (DID) programme. India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) highlighted the success its scheme achieved cutting dwell time at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) for exporters and importers alike.
With more JNPT shippers using the programme, which customs says saves INR30,000 (US$436) per TEU, partly because supply chain intermediaries no longer enjoy the bargaining power they had in the past regarding cargo storage and associated logistics functions there, reports IHS Media.
'Going by the success of at JNCH (Jawaharlal Nehru Customs House) and encouraging figures at other gateway ports, CBIC intends to implement a similar concept,' said the communique from Customs.
'This procedure would be applicable for the inland bound containers only after entry inwards have been granted at the gateway port,' said the communique.
Listing proposed procedural compliances, the board said compliant importers registered under the scheme must first fill forms and make duty payments before freight arrives cargo at inland container depots.
Further, the agency said stakeholders will need to take into account cases where all containers manifested on the bill of lading do not arrive in a single shipment - a frequent occurrence at inland container depots (ICD).
Under the scheme, customs-accredited clients can clear their imports directly from the wharf within 48 hours of cargo landing at the port, which obviates the shippers' need to shift containers to an off-site depot for storage and customs clearance - a long-time practice at JNPT.
