‘GST on rly site parking fee unjust’

Former Physics Professor of Sambalpur University Dr Sankar Prasad Pati has objected to the GST imposed on parking fees in railway stations. He said he had tried to intimate the Railway Ministry and Ministry of Finance on this, but the reply of the Railway Board has been disappointing.

As per provision, no GST on parking fees is chargeable if the parking place exists on Government land. But in almost all the stations of the country and in Sambalpur too, the parking places are on Government land only and exclusively the land belongs to the Indian Railway. “Hence charging of GST is illegal,” Dr. Pati wrote to the ministry with copies enclosed to all senior officials, including the Railway Board.

He also made a mention of the instruction of the Finance Department of Government of India in this regard.

“But I am surprised after looking at the reply from the Railway Ministry signed by  Amit Kumar Mukherjee, Deputy Director (traffic commercial), Railway Board. In the letter the concerned official clarifies that since the parking work is operated by private parties, hence GST of 18 per cent is justified,” said Pati after circulating the letter copy to media and civil society.   “Even if the parking activities are managed by private parties/contractors, whom does the land belong to,” Dr  Pati asked.

Due to such unreasonable decision, the common people and the rail users are unnecessarily paying GST on parking. Hence, the Government needs to stick to the rules rather than individual decisions of some of the officials, said Dr Pati.