Mangaluru: Chief Commissioner of Customs (Bengaluru Zone) A K Jyotishi informed that the customs office at Mangaluru would be converted into the state customs museum, in order to preserve customs heritage.
He was speaking after inaugurating the newly renovated Customs Office at Old Port Bunder on Tuesday, July 9. Jyotishi said, “The Indian Customs and Central Excise Museum located at Goa is the first museum of its kind, depicting the rich history of the Indian Customs and Central Excise department. The museum showcases an array of seized goods, antiques, and customs heritage. But, there was no such museum in our state. In order to preserve seized goods, antiques and customs heritage, Mangaluru customs office would be converted into the state’s customs museum”.
Jyotishi also informed that if people would like to hand over any antiques to the customs department, it would be preserved with utmost care in the museum and identity of those who donated the items will be displayed.
Speaking about the setting up of new ‘Customs House’ at Bengaluru, Jyotishi said, “ in order to construct a separate ‘Customs House’, a land of around 1.1 acre, has been identified near Bengaluru International Airport. At present, customs office has been functioning at the building of Central Revenue building in Bengaluru. If the new ‘Customs House’ is constructed in our own land, then it will help us execute our duty in a better way.”
Mobile scanner machine to come up at NMPT
Jyotishi informed that a mobile scanner machine will be placed at New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) to scan the containers which come from different places. “This scanner machine was purchased at the cost of Rs 30 crore with 10 years maintenance cost. It will be commissioned shortly”, he added.
Dr M. Subramanyam, Commissioner of GST Audit, Bengaluru said that despite land dispute with the port department, renovation of customs office was done rapidly. “ As Mangaluru is a centre of economic activities, it was the need of the hour to restore the old building of customs office. Though the building was renovated, more concentration was given to preserving the heritage of the building”, he said.
The customs office in Bunder was constructed in the year 1889. As it was in dilapidated condition, the department of customs planned to renovate it at the cost of Rs 89.46 lakh. The renovation work was started in the month of May 2018 and completed now.
Commissioner of Customs, Mangaluru Parag C Borkar, Additional Commissioner Imamuddin Ahmad, PWD chief engineer S N Rai among others were present.
