Govt raises gold limit for air passengers

New Delhi - In a huge relief to passengers from abroad, the government raised the limit on the gold that can be carried by passengers through the customs of the airports in the country. Presenting the 82nd budget, union minister for finance P Chidambaram announced that the government will allow male passengers to carry gold worth Rs 50,000, and female passengers gold worth Rs 1 lac. Earlier, this limit was set at Rs 20,000 worth gold for women and Rs 10,000 for men. Chidambaram said that the government had received various complaints of harassment by customs officers in airports around the country. Hence the limit has been raised.