Mumbai: The governor of Maharashtra, C Vidyasagar Rao, has urged the customs officials to interact with the public on a weekly basis. The first step in this direction would be the setting up of a customs museum in Mumbai. Speaking as the chief guest in a programme to celebrate the International Customs Day on Friday, Rao said: “The organisation (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) has a long and distinguished history, which should be brought to people. It will enhance their understanding and appreciation towards the customs.” At present, there is only one museum — Indian Customs and Central Excise Museum in Goa, inaugurated in 2009. The museum talks about the history of the Indian Customs and Central Excise department. It also showcases an array of seized goods, antiques, and customs heritage.
The governor added the customs department should have a weekly interface with public to sensitise them about the customs department and contribution of its officers. Rao also appreciated the efforts made by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and Mumbai Customs in facilitating the trade. He highlighted the contribution of the department in improving India’s ranking in World Bank’s Trading across Borders index from 146 in 2017 to 80 in 2018. He also reminded them of continuous improvement in ranking and achieving the vision of top 50 envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
