KOCHI: The time needed for clearing the import and export cargo from the International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam by the customs department will be reduced to three days from the existing levels of 15 days.
A meeting held jointly by the Cochin Port Trust Chairman and Customs Commissioner with exporters and importers on Tuesday also decided to review the free period given to Exim trade at the ICTT as part of the decision.
The average dwell time (time taken for movement of import cargo from the point of arrival of vessel by Customs to grant of ‘out-of-charge’ by Customs) for import of cargo at Cochin is 15.36 days, which is much longer than the dwell time in other Indian Ports, a release issued by CPT said. In other Indian ports the dwell time is only 5-56 days.
A major reason for the delay in Kochi is due to the time taken for filing the bill of entry on behalf of importers. The customs has now begun measures to cut the dates taken for the process to two days and the same is likely to implemented by March next year.
The cut in dwell time for clearance will go a long way in reducing the time for physical receipt of imported goods by the consignee and also to a great extent result in reduction of cost by avoidance of chances of demurrage and other detention cost, the release said.
