Gangavaram Port goes to Customs

By Vijay Kumar

Gangavaram near Vizag is the most modern all weather, deepwater, multi-purpose world-class port facility in India. The depth that other ports get after expensive dredging is available naturally in Gangavaram. This is the port of the future. But there was a Customs dispute – whether the Port would be under the jurisdiction of the Vizag Customs or Central Excise. The Port is outside the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation and therefore there was a view that the Port should be under the control of Central Excise and not Customs. Incidentally in Vizag, there is only one Chief Commissioner for Customs and Central Excise.

Officers from the Central Excise and Customs wings were vociferous in their demand for jurisdiction and had sought support from TIOL – a few months ago DDT asked the CEO of the Port about this problem – He said it did not make any difference to him whether the Port was under Central Excise control or Customs control. It was for the Department to sort out the issue.

Finally the Government has sorted out the problem and has now given the jurisdiction of the Port to Vizag Customs.

Notification NO. 108/2008 – Cus (N.T.) Dated: September 23, 2008