CBIC Adds Anekollu, Krishnagiri (Tamil Nadu) as a Customs Station for Imports and Exports

India's customs map has a new entry. Through Notification No. 88/2026-Customs (N.T.), dated 28 October 2026 (G.S.R. 952(E)), the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has notified Anekollu, in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu, as an approved customs station for the unloading of imported goods and the loading of export goods.

For exporters, importers and CHAs operating in the fast-growing Hosur–Krishnagiri industrial belt of northern Tamil Nadu, this means a formally recognised clearance point closer to the factory gate — with the potential to cut inland haulage, dwell time and cost versus routing everything through a distant seaport or an existing ICD.

What Happened

CBIC amended Notification No. 12/97-Customs (N.T.), dated 2 April 1997 — the master notification that lists every approved customs station in India — to insert Anekollu as a new entry under the Tamil Nadu serial (serial number 11, item (xiv)). The approved purpose is stated in the standard wording: "unloading of imported goods and the loading of export goods or any class of such goods."

This is the second recent addition to the Tamil Nadu list; Notification No. 12/97 was last amended by Notification No. 83/2026-Customs (N.T.), dated 14 October 2026. The source does not state a separate commencement date, so the notification date of 28 October 2026 is the operative reference; confirm go-live timing with the jurisdictional Commissionerate.

Why / Background

Under Section 7 of the Customs Act, 1962, goods may only be imported or exported through places that the Board has appointed as customs ports, airports, inland container depots (ICDs) or land customs stations. Adding a location to Notification No. 12/97 is how CBIC formally "switches on" customs clearance there.

The Hosur–Krishnagiri corridor has become a major manufacturing cluster — electronics, auto components, engineering goods and consumer products — and sits on the Bengaluru–Chennai axis. A nearer appointed customs station reduces the need to truck containers long distances to a seaport or to an overloaded ICD for stuffing, examination and clearance.

Who's Affected / Who Benefits

Benefiting: Exporters and importers with plants or warehouses in and around Hosur, Krishnagiri and the broader northern Tamil Nadu / Bengaluru fringe, who can now factor a closer clearance point into their logistics plan.

Forwarders and CHAs: A new jurisdiction to register and operate in, and a new routing option to offer clients.

Transporters: Shorter first/last-mile movements for containers originating in or destined for the cluster.

Operational Detail

A location appearing in Notification No. 12/97 establishes it as an appointed customs station. Before diverting cargo there, operators should confirm the supporting operational elements are in place:

The customs jurisdiction (which Commissionerate and range administers it) and office hours.
Whether it is set up for container (FCL/LCL) handling, examination facilities, and any approved custodian.
ICEGATE and EDI readiness for filing shipping bills and bills of entry against the new location code.
Whether specific cargo classes or schemes (e.g., bonded movement, specific product examinations) are supported.

Until these are confirmed operational, treat the notification as enabling rather than a guarantee that your particular consignment can clear there from day one.

What Exporters, Importers and CHAs Should Do Now

Check jurisdiction and readiness. Contact the jurisdictional Customs Commissionerate to confirm office functioning, custodian arrangements and the facility's EDI/ICEGATE location code.
Re-model inland logistics. Compare landed cost and transit time for clearing at Anekollu versus your current seaport/ICD routing, including haulage and detention/dwell savings.
Update master data. If you adopt the new station, add its customs location code to your shipping-bill and bill-of-entry templates and ERP/forwarder instructions.
Confirm scheme compatibility. If you move goods under bond, EOU/SEZ, or need specific examinations (e.g., PQ, drawback), verify the station supports them before committing cargo.
Brief your CHA so filings reference the correct, newly notified location.

The Bigger Picture

Steadily expanding the network of appointed customs stations — ICDs, air cargo complexes and inland locations — is part of a long-running policy to bring clearance closer to production clusters and decongest gateway ports. For traders, each new station is an opportunity to shorten supply chains, but the real benefit only materialises once the custodian, EDI and examination infrastructure are live. The practical move is to validate operational readiness, then decide whether to switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start clearing cargo at Anekollu immediately? The notification appoints it as a customs station. Whether your specific consignment can clear there now depends on custodian, EDI and examination readiness — confirm with the jurisdictional Commissionerate first.

What operations are approved? Unloading of imported goods and loading of export goods, per the standard wording of Notification No. 12/97-Customs (N.T.).

Does this replace my current port or ICD? No. It adds an option. You choose the clearance point that gives the best cost, transit and compliance fit for each consignment.

Which notification should my CHA reference? Notification No. 88/2026-Customs (N.T.), dated 28 October 2026, which amends Notification No. 12/97-Customs (N.T.).

Conclusion

Anekollu's appointment as a customs station is a small but useful win for the northern Tamil Nadu manufacturing belt. Exporters and importers in the region should assess whether clearing closer to home beats their current routing — after confirming the station is operationally live.

This article is for general guidance. The operative text is CBIC Notification No. 88/2026-Customs (N.T.), dated 28 October 2026 (amending Notification No. 12/97-Customs (N.T.)). Verify jurisdiction, operational status and the location code with the official notification on the CBIC portal (cbic.gov.in) and the jurisdictional Commissionerate before routing cargo.