Impressive growth in Central Excise Duty in AP

Visakhapatnam, Feb 14 (UNI) The Central excise duty collections in Visakhapatnam zone has recorded and impressive 20.3 per cent growth over the corresponding period of 2005-06, as against 6.02 per cent growth in the country.

Chief Commissioner P N Vital Dass said the collections in the zone comprising Guntur and Tirupati commissionerates recorded a growth of 56 per cent over last year in respect of service tax.

The collections in real terms were Rs 5,754 crore, as against Rs 4,782 crore last year. At this rate of collection, the zone was likely to exceed the budget target of Rs 6,700 crore for 2006-07.

The customs revenue from Visakhapatnam and Kakinada ports also recorded a growth of 11.43 per cent. The revenue was Rs 2,168 crore up to January 31 this year, compared to Rs 1,946 crore during the corresponding period last year, he added.

UNI