Prabhu sets up study group to vet impact of GST on Rlys ops

TIL Desk/Business/Mumbai/ Railway minister Suresh Prabhu has said the Railways has set up a group to study the impact of the soon-to-be-launched goods and services tax (GST) on its operations.

“Inevitably all sectors will be affected (with the GST rollout). Not to say that the Railways will be immune from this. We are studying the impact. In any case it is the law of the land so we will adopt it. We have already set up a group to look into the implications of GST on all our operations,” Prabhu told reporters on sidelines of IMC annual general meeting.

The immediate impact of GST will see a 50 bps increase in AC and First Class train fares to 5 per cent from July 1.But he was quick to add that in the long-run the new tax regime will be a great boost to overall growth which will help the economy clip at double-digits.

On the impact of GST on the transport sector which will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the single taxation regime as border check-posts will be a thing of the past, he said this in turn should help the Railways get better. Increased movement of goods will help create lots of ancillary activities around the transportation sector, he added.