In an announcement that is being widely welcomed by the gem and jewellery trade in Jaipur, the Customs Department of Delhi Zone has granted permission to The Jaipur Gemstones Exchange, Diggi House, Jaipur to carry precious cargo imports from IGI Airport, Delhi by its Bonded Cargo Trucking system to its Customs Clearance Centre at Jaipur for final clearance.

The Exchange has already been transporting export shipments from its centre in Jaipur to the Air Cargo Complex at IGI Airport, Delhi by road.

A notice granting permission to the Exchange regarding transportation of precious cargo by road was issued by the Office of the Principal Commissioner of Customs (Imports) in New Delhi on August 22, 2019.

The notification will pave the way for rough gemstones purchased overseas as well as for gold imported by MMTC to be cleared by manufacturer-exporters at Jaipur itself, the GJEPC said. The precious cargo that can be transported includes rough gemstones from Africa and Latin America, destined for Jaipur, including gemstones purchased at a recent auction in Lusaka, and gold from Zurich through MMTC. Such shipments can now be imported to Delhi through foreign airlines and be brought to Jaipur by specified bonded cargo transport.

It may be recalled that this logistical issue had arisen earlier this year when Jet Airways, which was authorised to carry gold to Jaipur suspended all its services. No suitable alternative air cargo system could be put in place earlier despite repeated efforts for a variety of reasons.

GJEPC made multiple representations to the Shri O.P. Dadhich, Chief Commissioner, Customs, Delhi Zone in this regard and thanks to his intervention the matter has now been resolved.