From Chief Commissioner's Desk
Message from the Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone I :
Mumbai Customs Zone – I, located in the historic century old building called New Custom House, arguably the first RCC edifice in India built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, inspires awe to the beholder. This Zone has particular significance on account of being the Cadre Controlling Authority (CCA) of all the Mumbai Customs Zones. It cannot be gainsaid that Human resources and infrastructure are the key to the progress of any organization. As the designated CCA for Mumbai Customs, it falls upon Mumbai Customs Zone–I to ensure that employee morale and motivation remains high. Several pathbreaking steps are being initiated to secure this goal, by way of continuous training / re-skilling programmes, capacity building programmes to provide a holistic platform to enable employees to tap into intrinsic & extrinsic motivators and ignite their potential, putting in place a suitable feedback, recognition & rewards system. A ‘People first’ approach will be followed to drive the organizational goals. All aspects of personnel management including promotions, welfare measures, grievance redressal, regular consultations with employee Associations, fast tracking of pending cases, expeditious grant of NOCs, clearances, approvals are being taken up on war footing, and I promise to take it further.
Infrastructure will be a thrust area with increased focus on expeditious completion of pending projects, initiation of projects to meet the increased official and residential requirements of officers, optimal utilization of space available with the department in the best possible manner, regular maintenance and upkeep of the land & buildings, working towards the completion of the grand Customs Enclave project at Wadala thereby fulfilling the dreams of thousands of officers and providing centralized office space to many subordinate offices and field formations under CBIC under one roof.
Trade facilitation measures will continue to occupy top priority for this Zone with initiatives like increased workflow automation, emphasis on online/digital transactions with minimal direct human interface, improved service delivery through electronic governance, adherence to the Citizens Charter, establishing effective, open & interactive communication channels with stakeholders, industry bodies and participating government agencies (PGA’s). Every effort will be made to institute robust & fail proof delivery mechanisms to eliminate delays. The successful rollout of Faceless Assessment and Turant Suvidha Kendra are testimony to the efforts in this direction. They are being closely monitored on daily basis to effect further improvements and improve responsiveness to trade.
The country is slowly recovering from the devastating effect of the Covid global pandemic which has not spared this zone either. However, gargantuan efforts are being channeled towards providing maximum ease of doing business to boost cross border trade, augment revenue, benchmark key trade facilitation parameters to global standards, reduce transaction costs, increase digitization and work towards paperless governance. The revenue figures for FY 21-22 are encouraging owing to the increase in volumes, revenue augmentation measures and the zealous performance by the officers. Every effort will be made by the officers of this zone to exceed the estimated revenue collection target.
It will be my endeavor to ensure that the officers and staff leave no stone unturned to provide the best support and facilities to promote the measures for ease of doing business in line with the Government’s initiatives. Action Plans are being drawn up to complete all departmental promotions, financial upgradations for various cadres within the specified timelines and address all pending issues relating to staff welfare. Special drives are being aggressively pursued to clear long pending uncleared/ unclaimed and seized/confiscated cargo, dispose off pending adjudications, refunds, drawback claims etc. Our officers are committed to put in their best efforts in the service of the department and the Nation.
I take this opportunity to remind every member of the Mumbai Customs fraternity and the larger extended family of all stakeholders that our success is built upon the continuous efforts of everyone. No stone will be left unturned to achieve excellence in administering the Government’s policies in a pragmatic manner, creating a climate for voluntary compliance, supplementing efforts to ensure national security and aimed at realizing revenues in a fair, equitable transparent and efficient manner.
‘Reform, Perform & Transform is our mantra’
‘Trade delight with employee satisfaction is our motto’
- P. K. Agrawal, Pr.Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone-I.
