Row over Customs nod for Mumbai duty-free outlets

New Delhi: Controversy has become the jinx of duty-free business at the Mumbai airport. The finance ministry is looking into a compliant that DFS of Singapore has been provided licence by the customs authorities to launch duty-free outlets at the Mumbai airport without necessary clearances from various departments.
Former civil aviation minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, a BJP MP, has alleged that the customs department has not adhered to the norms laid down by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in providing licence to the duty-free operator.
The former minister has written to finance minister P Chidambaram, urging him to look into the charges. The development comes close on the heels of DFS launching duty-free business at the airport after it went without duty-free outlets for more than a year. The Mumbai airport –– busiest in India –– did not have duty-free outlets for more than a year since the ITDC-Aldesa joint venture, which was awarded a contract for these outlets, came unstuck.
22/03/08 Economic Times

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Categories: Airports Mar 2008