Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has decided to keep open its field formation offices on 29^th, 30^th & 31^st March 2013 as a trade facilitation measure and as part of revenue collection exercise. All the field formations have also been directed to issue trade notices for the information of the trade.

Department of Financial Services has also been requested to issue instructions to have the banks open for longer hours on 26^th, 28^th and 30^th March 2013 and open for at least half day on 27^th and 29^th (Gazetted holidays) and on 31^st March (Sunday) .

DSM/ka

(Release ID :93990)

Trade facilitation: field offices and banks instructed to extend opening hours to support revenue collection and trade services. CBEC directed its field formation offices to remain open during the last three days of March 2013 as a trade facilitation and revenue collection measure and to issue trade notices; the Department of Financial Services was requested to have banks extend business hours and open for at least half days on specified dates, including gazetted holidays and a Sunday, to align banking availability with customs operations.