Customs glitch irks exporters

KOLKATA: A glitch in the critical on-line documentation system at the cargo division of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport has left importers and exporters fuming.
The electronic data interchange (EDI) system operated by the Customs department to process bills of entry and shipment has suffered frequent shut-downs leading to schedule disruptions.Though the Customs department has begun issuing manual challans after its computer network conked off, no one is able to provide any assurance on when it will be restored.
"Though the EDI system has been installed across the country, only Kolkata has been facing the problems," said Bibhas Roy, general manager at the country''s largest customs clearing and forwarding agent Bax Global India. While processing work at the import section has been out of order since Thursday, the system at the export section switched off on Tuesday, bringing all online transactions to a halt.
"No one seems to realise that the system needs to be restored urgently. The manual processing system is slow, delaying the forwarding of materials. Some consignments even missed flights and had to pay demurrage," complained P.K. Datta of Exel India, another clearing agent.
Though the EDI system was implemented at the airport two years ago, the teething problem persisted.
The breakdowns became more frequent after its server was connected to the Airport Authority of India. a few months ago. Air Cargo Agents'' Association of India representative Ajit Dutta was scathing in his criticism. "Exporters have already begun plans to shift to Delhi and Bangalore for better service. Time is of critical importance and a missed flight could mean cancellation of order," Dutta said.
Airport Customs commissioner Prem Raj, while acknowledging that the system was inoperative at present, said the problem was temporary as a new server was being installed. "There is no inherent problem in the system," he insisted.