GNLF protests against toll tax at Rohini Toll Plaza

DARJEELING, : The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) on Thursday staged a protest in front of the Rohini Toll Plaza, the gateway to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) area from Siliguri, demanding that toll tax collection be stopped.

Following the protest and slogan-shouting at the site, toll collection remained suspended for the day. However, it remains uncertain what steps will be taken regarding the demand in the coming days.

GNLF Kurseong Division Branch president Nima Lama said, “This road was constructed as an alternative route to the Hills under the initiative of late Subash Ghising for the smooth and convenient movement of the general public. Therefore, imposing an additional financial burden on the people is unacceptable. After the GTA was formed, toll taxes started being collected here, which will be stopped from today onwards.”

GNLF supporters gathered at the site were also seen painting over the word “GTA” written on the gate, while raising slogans of “We want 6th Schedule.”

Lama further claimed that once the process of government formation by the BJP in the state is completed, the GTA would be removed as, according to him, it was being run illegally.

“The GTA does not even have the power to issue Gorkha certificates and is merely a development agency. We have given the BJP three MLAs from this region and now, with the BJP in power at both the Centre and the State, a constitutionally guaranteed arrangement will be provided here,” Lama said.

The Rohini Toll Plaza was commissioned in December 2013, covering the 11-km stretch from Zero Point in Kurseong town to the plaza. It connects to the Garidhura road under the State PWD leading towards Siliguri and has become one of the most frequently used routes for vehicles travelling to the Hills.

The toll tax was waived in 2018 when the GTA was under the administration of former GTA chairman Binoy Tamang, but collection resumed in October 2019.

Later in the evening a section of Rohini locals who are dependent on the functioning of the toll plaza reopened it. They maintained that seventeen families were dependent on it with them working there. They added such "gundagardi" would not be tolerated.

“Let them bring an official letter saying that tax collection has been closed along with finding employment for us in a different place then we do not have to say anything. But we will not agree on them bringing party flags and forcefully closing it," said Vivek Tamang, one of the people condemning the closure of the toll plaza.

Locals there also requested political parties not to do politics of flags there.