The Chennai Customs Department will soon launch a mobile app for both Android and iPhone users.

Principal Commissioner of Customs Ranjan Kumar Routray said, “Social media is a powerful tool and we want to be active there. We have been holding discussions about the app and hope to launch it soon.”

A few months ago, the Chennai airport also launched an app for passengers. But so far, this is available only on the Android platform. Also the department has been posting updates on a Facebook page it launched sometime ago. Customs officials said that passengers could even use this page to post their complaints and action would be initiated. They, however, added that there was no plan to have any toll-free number for passengers to register their complaints anytime soon. The Commissioner said that as announced in the Union Budget 2016, the duty-free baggage allowance for international passengers had been increased from Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 50,000.

“Also, earlier, international passengers coming to our country had to fill up forms even if they did not carry dutiable goods. But henceforth, that procedure is not necessary for those travelling without dutiable goods,” he added.

Additional staff

When asked about the additional staff that Customs Department had sought from the Centre sometime ago, the Commissioner said the talks were still on. “We had communicated to them but we are not sure when we get additional staff,”he added.