Customs Clearances at Nhava Sheva and Other Ports Stuck at IceGate Computers Unable to Take Load

· Importers Forced to Pay Fine for Late Filing of Documents and Duty Payment

· Demurrage Charge for Container Rent and Warehousing Space Killing Trade

· Exports too Affected

· Freight Forwarders Association Takes up Matter with Government, FIEO too Expresses Concerns

· No News on Hardware Upgradation from CBEC

Highlights of Freight Forwarders Letter

The present systems; hardware; software responsiveness and technical ability of executive officers is an area of major concern and requires immediate attention from all quarters.

It is experienced that the systems are slow and do not respond for hours practically, every day.

In the recent past, we have had a few occasions when the system has been down for over 5/6 hours on a single day. This has led to an artificial increase in Dwell time- that all of us work hard in reducing- thereby enriching the Custodians.

Suggestions

On all days that the system does not function properly for over 1 hour after 3.00 p.m. automatic concession to late fee under Section 46(3) or interest for RMS facilitated import bills of entries should be relaxed for 24 hours.

Suitable sensitization of Sr. Officers to view these problems sympathetically is urgently requested.

Evolve a system of manual out of charge; let export order as well as carting whenever the systems on down beyond 1 hour automatically so that same can be done at Appraiser/Superintendent level.

Since the system does not respond in time all Assessee's file the same documents again and again- a software correction may kindly be considered such that documents under same Invoice or AWB number or Bill of Lading number cannot be filed again. This will reduce the recurring submission of the same file and free the system of the additional load it has to take.

The department may also like to re-examine the working and permit Appraisement on Saturdays also.