Faced with "acute shortage" residential units for its staff, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) today asked its top officials to explore options of buying ready built accommodation from housing boards and private builders in different parts of the country.
There is an "acute shortage" of office space as well as residential units consequent to cadre restructuring in 2014, Directorate General of Human Resource Development, Central Board of Excise and Customs said in a communication to its top officials.
"In fact, at present 30 per cent offices are still operating from hired spaces. This position needs to be corrected on priority," it said.
Further, the officials have been asked to explore the options available in their zone/city to address the requirement of residential accommodation. They have been asked to meet senior officers of the the local CPWD, local housing boards and reputed private builders to acquire the available residential units for meeting the requirement.
"As a long-term measure (say within 2-3 years' period) options for purchasing ready built residential accommodation may be explored i.E to identify where new apartment blocks are being constructed by the local housing boards/ or reputed private builders vis-a vis the departmental requirements," the communication said.
A pricing committee "may be constituted" to make a realistic cost comparison (in advance) based on state government rates and the affordability keeping in view House Rent Allowance (HRA) admissible.
The senior officials of Customs, Excise and Service Tax have been asked to "chalk-out" a schedule for initiatives to augment infrastructure in a phase manner and to priorities the project on long term, mid-term and short term requirements.
They have also been asked to constitute a dedicated 'infrastructure cell' in each zone, if not done already, before June 16.
