Coimbatore Jan. 05
After various confusions, customs officials have announced that Coimbatore customs office would be moved to be headquartered under the Tiruchi office from 15th of January
Though the announcement of shifting was made during the beginning of November 2017 by then Commissioner of Coimbatore Customs Department, G. Srinivasarao, the shifting was delayed for various reasons.
Initially, it was proposed to effect the shifting from November in an attempt to centralise functioning of customs. However, it was not received well by the trading community of Coimbatore who claimed that the city airport exported and imported majority of goods.
Subsequently, the shifting date was extended to the 31st of December, 2017 and it was then said that lack of staff in the office was the reason. Sources inside the Customs Department told Simplicity that up to 30 staff from the current office were to be shifted along with the office.
“It was first decided to leave only the field staff and move the rest to Trichy. But due to some technical issues, we have not been able to arrive on the number of staff to be moved. So it has been decided to shift the office after December”, said a source.
It seems that officials have come to a consensus as an announcement from them claims that the office would be moved from January 15th.
Though industrialists have claimed that it would be huge drawback to trade here, officials with customs have said that it would not affect business. “Office would be here and additional commissioner would be incharge of all day to day activities. Only Offcier transfers and SEZ permissions would be handled by commissioner. Applicants need not go to Tiruchi to get SEZ permissions”, the official added.
According to officials, Coimbatore Customs covers four Inland Container Depots with two each in Coimbatore and Tirupur. Goods including engineering items, textile products, sugar, machinery, accessories, and coir are exported and imported from these.