The second phase of the all-India income-tax network is expected to be almost ready by this year-end.
Work is also on in full swing to set up the all-India annual information returns (AIRs) based database for speedy transmission of vital information, with the main server in Delhi, a replica in Mumbai, and a back-up facility at Chennai. Mr G. Choudhuri, Commissioner of Income-Tax, Computer Operations, Kolkata said that the national database will eventually be connected to the network to facilitate nationwide tracking of key information leads culled through AIRs. He added that as per the latest feedback available from the headquarters zone, the network is likely to be in place and become operational by January. Describing the networking exercise as massive, he said that it would cover as many as 510 locations through 750 offices of the Department all over the country. Networking of the local zone (Kolkata) is being handled by IBM India.
