Under the new approach, vehicles will be stopped only on the basis of specific intelligence and with prior authorisation from an officer not below the rank of Joint Commissioner. For consignments moving across multiple states, checks will primarily be undertaken at the origin and destination points, reducing the need for repeated inspections during transit.     AITWA said the measures address a long-standing concern of the road transport industry and could significantly reduce unnecessary stoppages, delays and uncertainty in the movement of genuine consignments.     AITWA Has Consistently Raised the Issue     AITWA has for years been highlighting excessive transit checks and disproportionate penalties under the GST regime before the Government and tax authorities.     In 2021, the association supported the call for a Bharat Bandh and Chakka Jam on February 26, with the transport industry seeking relief from impractical E-Way Bill provisions and the stringent consequences under Section 129 of the CGST Act.    The association pointed out that detention of goods over E-Way Bill-related issues could result in penalties running into lakhs of rupees, with the statutory framework providing for a penalty of up to 200% of the tax payable in specified cases. For genuine taxpayers and transporters, inadvertent documentation errors, delays or circumstances beyond their control could consequently lead to a disproportionate financial burden.    AITWA said the latest decision could significantly change the experience of compliant taxpayers and transporters travelling across Indian highways.    By moving towards intelligence-led rather than routine and repetitive checks, legitimate consignments are expected to move with greater predictability. In cases where an issue does arise, taxpayers and their representatives would also have a better opportunity to reach the vehicle and explain the relevant documentation and transaction, instead of facing repeated intervention at multiple points during an inter-state journey.     Abhishek Gupta, General Secretary, AITWA, said: “AITWA has been fighting this battle for years. We have repeatedly highlighted that a genuine transaction should not become a victim of procedural complications or disproportionate penalties. ‘Error vs Evasion’ was our representation always. Section 129, particularly the 200% penalty provision, created enormous anxiety and financial exposure for transporters and taxpayers even where there was no intention to evade tax.”    Ashok Goyal, National President, AITWA, said: “The decision of the GST Council to move towards intelligence-based intervention and restrict unnecessary checks during transit is a very significant relief for the transport community. It will reduce transit disruptions, improve logistics efficiency and strengthen the principle of trust-based taxation.”    He added, “AITWA sincerely appreciates the intervention and efforts of the CBIC, the Policy Wing and the GST Council for listening to the industry’s concerns and acting on issues that we have been consistently raising. Millions of truckers, transporters and genuine taxpayers welcome this step.”     AITWA said effective implementation of the decision in its intended spirit will be critical to achieving the desired impact. The association expressed hope that the new framework would bring greater consistency across states, minimise discretionary stoppages and ensure that enforcement remains focused on genuine cases of tax evasion rather than compliant movement of goods.     The association said it looks forward to working constructively with the CBIC, GST Council and state tax administrations to ensure that the reform translates into smoother, faster and more transparent movement of goods across India.    

AITWA also said it expects continued dialogue with the authorities to help identify and remove other bottlenecks affecting the road transport sector.