DARJEELING, : Members from different organizations
took to the streets today in a mass rally from Ghoom to Darjeeling, demanding immediate
action to address the severe traffic issues plaguing the hill town.
Organized by Gorkha Jan Awaz and
Himalayan Transport Coordination Committee (HTCC), the rally mostly had members
from transport associations and social organisations. They also submitted a
memorandum to Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) today, outlining
their demands.
Explaining the reason for taking out a
rally, HTCC general secretary Dilip Pradhan said, “Despite repeated appeals to
the administration regarding traffic congestion, nothing has been done till
now. The GTA is the local government here and they should do something about
it.”
Pradhan said the GTA should call a
meeting involving the public, transport associations and relevant departments
to devise a solution for the traffic jams.
Pradip Lama, a tour operator, mentioned
the success of parking solutions in Siliguri, where the introduction of
designated parking areas on Hill Cart Road and Sevoke Road has significantly
alleviated traffic problems. The absence of similar measures in Darjeeling has
exacerbated the situation, leading to frequent traffic jams, he added.
Lama also highlighted the challenges
posed by the introduction of large NBSTC buses in the narrow streets of
Darjeeling. “These long and large buses struggle with sharp bends and narrow
roads, contributing to traffic jams. We feel that smaller buses should be introduced,”
said Lama, adding that the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway should consider
bringing rail tracks on level with road in some places between Rangbull and
Darjeeling to minimize road congestion.
Sumit Mukherjee of the Siliguri
Darjeeling Taxi Association noted that persistent traffic jams have discouraged
tourists from visiting Darjeeling, affecting the livelihood of local
businesses. “Tourists are fed up with the traffic situation telling us that
they do not want to visit Darjeeling anymore. If the tourists stop visiting,
then how will we earn our living? ” questioned Mukherjee.
Taxi driver Punam Rai echoed these
concerns, emphasizing the urgency of the situation as the tourist season
approaches. “The rally aims to bring the administration’s attention to the
severe traffic issues, including narrow roads and inadequate parking. We hope
that immediate action will be taken to address these problems, allowing us to
better serve our visitors and sustain our businesses,” he said.
