Darjeeling, December 12 (Siliguri Chronicle) – The long-running dispute over the movement of tourist taxis between the hills and the plains in Darjeeling district was resolved on Thursday after the district administration convened a meeting to break the deadlock.
The meeting, held virtually from the district magistrate’s office in Darjeeling, brought together representatives of small passenger vehicle owners and drivers’ associations from the hills, stakeholders from Siliguri, officials of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), police, the Siliguri subdivisional administration and members of the tourism industry.
According to district administration sources, representatives from both the hill and plains associations presented their concerns to officials, detailing the operational issues that had disrupted the smooth movement of passengers in recent weeks.
“The district administration took note of all issues raised at the talks and firmly appealed to all stakeholders to maintain the status quo to ensure uninterrupted transport services in the region. The importance of maintaining harmony and cooperation between transport operators of Siliguri and Darjeeling was underscored, as any disruption adversely affects the district’s tourism potential,” said an official statement issued by the administration.
The sources said all associations assured the administration of their full cooperation in resolving the issue and of their commitment to prioritising public service.
The standoff had continued for the past couple of weeks after drivers’ associations in the plains alleged that some hill-based groups had threatened them and obstructed them from conducting sightseeing tours in the hills.
Stakeholders in the tourism industry welcomed the administration’s intervention.
Samrat Sanyal, the general secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network (HHTDN), said: “We welcome the decision taken by the administration to resolve the differences between drivers of the hills and the plains. We have always maintained that we do not wish to enter into any confrontation.”
“The administration has clearly said all stakeholders must ensure uninterrupted transport services. All our representatives will follow the directive,” said Debasish Maitra, chairman of the transport management committee of the Eastern Himalayan Travel & Tour Operators’ Association.
With the matter now addressed, a review meeting will be held in a week to assess the situation and ensure compliance, administrative sources said.
