Madhya Pradesh launches SMS-based 'e-gatiman' service for transporters

BHOPAL: Aimed at ending the cumbersome process of getting Form-49 to get clearnace at 28 commercial tax checkposts while transporting goods, the Madhya Pradesh government introduced a short messaging service (SMS)-based "e-gatiman" service today for transporters.

"Instead of filling up Form-49 for clearances, transporters can get the 'way bill' in an electronic format by sending an SMS, filling up the form and sending it back to the concerned authority to generate a unique barcode under the e-gatiman service," Madhya Pradesh Finance and Commercial Taxes Minister Jayant Mallaiya told reporters after launching the service here today.

He said the service would reduce the cumbersome process of downloading Form-49, submitting it at checkposts to get gatepasses, which take a lot of time leading to traffic jams at checkposts.

"If date and time of arrival of goods at checkposts is as per schedule, then trucks can cross it through the green channel," he said.