E-way bill adds to companies' woes on GST

Firms, traders fear there could be increased harassment of truck drivers in absence of a bill

Burdened with greater documentation and compliance, consumer goods companies say the issue of interstate transfer of goods has not got easier with the e-way bill.

On Saturday, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council decided to make the e-way bill compulsory for interstate movement of goods from February 1, replacing the transit pass system followed by individual states.

The move is expected to act as an electronic surveillance of factory output and actual consumption of goods. But companies Business Standard spoke to argue the system may actually not aid smooth transfer of goods.

An e-way bill, for the uninitiated, is a transport document