A The Union Government has integrated the E-Way Bill (EWB) system with FasTag and RFID.
Q What is an E-Way Bill ?
A Electronic Way (E-Way) Bill:
E-Way Bill is usually a unique bill number generated for the specific consignment involving the movement of goods.
Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, EWBs are mandatory for inter-state transportation of goods valued over Rs. 50,000 from April 2018, with the exemption to precious items such as gold.
It is a mechanism to ensure that goods being transported comply with the GST Law and is a tool to track movement of goods and check tax evasion.
Q What is FASTag ?
A FASTag
The FASTag is a reloadable tag that allows automatic deduction of toll without having to stop for carrying out the cash transaction.
The tag uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and is fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle once active.
RFID is the use of radio waves to read and capture information stored on a tag attached to an object.
A tag can be read from up to several feet away and does not need to be within the direct line-of-sight of the reader to be tracked.
From 15th February, 2021, FASTag has become compulsory for all vehicles across the country.
It is operated by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
Q What is significance of this Integration ?
A
Large Movement of Goods Vehicles: On an average, 25 lakh goods vehicle movements from more than 800 tolls are reported on a daily basis to the E-Way Bill system.
Live Vigilance: The integration of EWB, RFID and FASTag will enable tax officers to undertake live vigilance in respect of EWB compliances by businesses.
Taxmen can now access reports on vehicles that have passed the selected tolls without e-way bills in the past few minutes.
Stop Revenue Leakage : It will aid in preventing revenue leakage by real-time identification of cases of recycling and/or non-generation of EWBs.