MANGALURU: Notwithstanding some teething troubles, the GST is saving trucking time on trunk routes, connecting top cities, between 24-36 hours besides saving the fleet owners Rs 5,000-7,500 per trip by way of corruption at the octroi and sales tax/VAT check posts which have since been dismantled by most of the states, an ASSOCHAM quick check has noted.
"Our quick check has shown that on an average a lorry/truck runs for 10-12 hours a day and should cover a distance of about 2200kms between, say Delhi - Chennai in 3 days. However, traversing through different states and braving the stoppages at several check posts of VAT, octroi, other local taxes was resulting in additional two-3 days, including those taken for "no entry'' traffic restrictions for big cities during the day time.