Since the closure of borders last year, registration of vehicles importing goods was made mandatory. But the process has been inconvenient and troublesome. This is now expected to become easier with the newly launched Customs Road Cargo Manifest System (CRCMS). It is an online web-based system for importers to register vehicles carrying goods.
Today, more than a hundred vehicles are processed by the customs office in Phuentshogling every day. And there was an urgent need to create an enabling environment through the use of ICT technologies.
When the vehicle registration system initially started last year, it was done manually. This was challenging for the importers, clearing agents and officials.
“The registration of import vehicles was not there prior to the COVID pandemic. The registration has come up to monitor the imports of essential goods. If this sort of registration was not there, we won’t be able to handle all the goods coming at the MDP because the whole idea of giving importance to the essential goods was to ensure that we have enough foodstuffs should this pandemic prolong,” said Wangchuk Thayey, the Director-General of the Dept. of Revenue and Customs.
Later, the Google sheet system was started. But it still remained inconvenient and was vulnerable to online hacking. In response, a web-based vehicle registration system or VRS was introduced. This is being replaced by the newly enhanced system, the CRCMS with added features such as one-time user registration, tracking of status, and booking based on availability.
“Under CRCMS, the importers and the clearing agents, they themselves can register the vehicles with the OTP being sent to the person who is intending to register the vehicle for import. So by that way, now there won’t be face to face contact or people don’t have to talk over the phone so as to register the vehicle,” the Director-General added.
The system is also linked to the online tax payment system, RAMIS which is expected to reduce tax evasion while promoting transparency, accountability and curbing corrupt practices. Currently, the CRCMS will only be used at the entry gate in Phuentshogling but will be used in other entry points later.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
