After e-Way Bills, Govt plans chip-based Tags for movement of goods

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We have to wait and see how practical the plan would be in terms of the ground reality and only proper implementation will remove the scepticism among Dealers: R. Krishnamurthy, PIA President

Under the newly implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST), the e-Way billing is introduced to enable better movement of goods across the country. To boost this further, there are reports that the government might introduce tech based RFID chips and QR codes tags for the consignments.

While the move is a long term project and is being seen as a good move, industry circles are wary about the implementation.

Reacting to the reports, Sri R. Krishnamurthy, President, PIA said one had to wait and see for how practical the plan would be in terms of the ground reality. “At the outset, we have always maintained that the Goods and Services Tax has indeed facilitated the movement of goods as there has been abolition of the different taxes that existed across different States in the country.

“The GST has enabled smoother movement, thus helping the traders cut on both cost and time” he said. “About the proposal to deploy high-tech RFID chips and QR codes to tag goods as they move, this will certainly further help in easing the trade along the route. Not only will it ensure easy movement, it will also eliminate the probability of inspector raj. However the success of the plan would depend on how it is practically implemented considering that IT infrastructure in the country is not satisfactory,” he opined and added, “RFID chips need tech-based detectors and also trained people to handle it which is going to be a big challenge for the Government to facilitate. Also the Government should not introduce it as blanket implementation. Ideally, the authorities should first run it on pilot basis so that Industry doesn’t get affected in case the plan doesn’t work well.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]