Under pressure from several states that have complained about large scale sales tax evasion on commercial goods transported through parcel vans, the railways now plan to allow state governments to set up sales tax inspection counters at parcel offices in stations across the country.
However, the Rail Bhavan is worried that the setting up of such counters may lead to harassment of customers who come to book parcels.
According to an official, some states, including Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat had complained that goods meant for sale were being booked on parcel vans for which sales tax was not paid.
The ministry says the state sales tax departments have exaggerated the proportion of losses suffered.
"Most of the goods booked through parcel vans are personal possessions of passengers and the share of commercial goods transported by passenger trains would be only a fraction of the