Customs department turns 50

BANGALORE: The Customs Department is all set to surpass its last year’s revenue of Rs 4,410 crore as it has already earned Rs 3,588 crore this year. Speaking on the occasion of International Customs Day and the 50th year of the Customs Act in Bangalore on Thursday, the department informed that this was a 28 per cent growth in revenue  compared to last year.B Bhattacharya, Commissioner for Customs in Bangalore said that 45 contraband related cases had been registered valued at Rs 4 crore. Added to this, nearly 138 commercial fraudulent cases had been booked valued at Rs 5 crore.  “There have been seizures including sim cards, drugs, super bikes and other products,” he shared. Speaking about the up-gradation of technology at the department, he said, “We have spent over Rs 600 crore in the last two years.” He said that the process involved digitisation of records and implementation of e-payment systems. “The implementation of technology would ensure speedy and hassle free services,” he said and shared that 60 per cent of customs are cleared without intervention owing to technology and digitisation.Heart Specialist Dr Devi Shetty acknowledged the departments’ contribution as he said the lowering of customs duty for medical equipment from 60-150 per cent to 10 per cent would result in lower medical expenses for the common man.