E-Way Bill Requirements for Transportation of Goods by Railways

A valid E-way bill needs to be carried when transporting goods from one place to another if the value of goods exceeds Rs. 50,000. It is to be generated from the GST portal before transporting goods either by rail, road or airways. It includes the details of goods being transported and the names of the consignor, consignee, transporter, etc.

The consignor or consignee should generate the e-way bill, or a transporter (even one who is not registered) can generate it through the GST portal if neither of them has done so. However, to generate the E-way bill, an unregistered transporter must first sign up on the E-way bill portal. The transporter is not accountable for generating an e-way bill for transportation by rail, air, or ship.

The following are the documents required to generate an e-way bill:

• Tax Invoice
• Delivery Challan
• Transporter ID
• Transport document number

E-Way Bill for Goods Transported by Railways

When transporting goods by rail, the following information must be included in the e-way bill:

• Transport Document Number (or RR Number)
• Date of the Transport Document Number
• Approximate distance to be covered in kilometres

You get a receipt (known as Railways Receipt or RR) from the railways as an acknowledgement that the goods will be transported through rail. It has an 11 digit number called an FNR in the top left corner, which transporters can use to track the transit status of the goods.

Goods being transported by rail are generally brought to the railway station via road transport. For this transportation of goods to the intermediary location (i.e the railway station), an e-way bill would already have been generated, and Part B would mention the details of the vehicle transporting the goods to the railway station. All that remains to be done now is that Part B needs to be updated with the RR number. It is the responsibility of the supplier or the agent or any other concerned person to get the RR number and update it in the e-way bill.

Part B of the E-way bill can be updated either before or after the journey starts. However, the update should have been done before final delivery, otherwise the e-way bill is considered invalid and cannot be used to take delivery of the goods at the final destination. E-Way Bills are not required by the Indian Railways, although it is still necessary for them to carry valid invoices, delivery challans, etc.

Conclusion

The E-Way Bill requirements for transporting goods by railways under GST have made the process more efficient and streamlined. The E-Way Bill ensures that goods are transported with proper documentation and helps curb tax evasion. However, businesses must ensure that they comply with the E-Way Bill regulations and provide accurate information to avoid penalties and delays.

By understanding and following the E-Way Bill requirements, businesses can ensure smooth transportation of goods and maintain compliance with GST regulations.Use BUSY E-Way Bill software to generate single as well as multiple e-way bills automatically without going to the GST Portal. You only need to do a quick one time setup, and thereafter you can generate e-way bills with just one click.