The procedure for approval of ICD/CFS and its implementation
- Proposals for setting up ICD/CFS will be considered and cleared, on merits, by an Inter-Ministerial Committee for ICDs/CFSs, which consists of officials of the Ministries of Commerce, Finance (Department of Revenue), Railways and Shipping. Views of the State Governments as necessary would be obtained.
- Application in 10 copies of the specified form should be submitted to the Infrastructure Division in the Ministry of Commerce, Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi. Application must be accompanied by 10 copies of feasibility reports mentioned in the guidelines.
- The applicant should also send a separate copy of the application to the jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs. The Commissioner of Customs will send his comments to the Ministry of Commerce and the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) within 30 days. In case, the project is planned in a port town, a copy of the proposal should also be sent to the concerned Port Authority who would furnish their comments within 30 days to the Ministry of Surface Transport and the Ministry of Commerce.
- The applicants are also requested to familiarise with the statutory Customs requirements in relation to Bonding, Transit Bond, Security Insurance and other necessary procedural requirements and cost recovery charges payable before filing the application.
- On receipt of the proposal, the Ministry of Commerce would take action to obtain the comments from the jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs and other concerned agencies within 30 days. Wherever necessary, a copy of the proposal should also be sent to Zonal Railway Manager, under intimation to the Ministry of Railways One copy of the proposal would also be made available to the IMC Members for advance action. The decision of the IMC would be taken within six weeks of the receipt of the proposal under normal circumstances.
- On acceptance of a proposal, a Letter of Intent will be issued to the applicant, which will enable it to initiate steps to create infrastructure.
- The applicant would be required to set up the infrastructure within one year from the date of approval. The Ministry of Commerce may grant an extension of six months keeping in view the justification given by the party. Thereafter, a report would be submitted to IMC to consider extension for a further (final) period of six months. The IMC may consider extension or may withdraw the approval granted.
- The applicant, after receipt of approval, shall send quarterly progress report to Ministry of Commerce. Three formats for sending the quarterly/ annual report shall have to be submitted to Department of Commerce through electronic mode as well as through hard copy.
- After the applicant has put up the required infrastructure, met the security standards of the jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs and provided a bond backed by bank guarantee to the Customs, final clearance and Customs notification will be issued.
- The approval will be subject to cancellation in the event of any abuse or violation of the conditions of approval.
- The working of the ICD/CFS will be open to review by the Inter Ministerial Committee.
