GTA delegation meets transport minister, demands transfer of department

DARJEELING,: A delegation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration met Bengal transport minister Snehashish Chakraborty on Tuesday and demanded transfer of transport department to the GTA.

The transport minister, who arrived in Darjeeling on Monday, met the GTA delegation in the morning and district administration and transport officials from Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts in the afternoon.

Speaking after the meeting, GTA deputy chairman, Rajesh Chowhan, who was part of the delegation, said, “We apprised the minister about the GTA Act and agreement and the issue of transfer of subjects in which transport is one of them. We have been asked to come to Kolkata for a formal meeting after Durga Puja.”

There are more than 50 departments in Darjeeling hills which are controlled by the West Bengal government. Even though the Bengal government promised to hand over all departments to GTA after the GTA elections in 2012, majority are yet to be handed over.

The GTA delegation also raised the issue of identifying an alternative route for vehicular movement in the Darjeeling town which has become a nightmare for commuters over the years due to encroachment.

“The State minister has asked us to prepare a DPR and submit it to Kolkata. We will sit for discussion and deliberation with the GTA chief executive officer and plan out alternative route to decongest the town area,” said Chowhan.

After the meeting with the district administration, Chakraborty said, “A proposal has been placed for introducing bus services for the town area. We will start with one such bus service after the Durga puja and then add more later on.”

At present, North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) operates only long distance services from Siliguri to Darjeeling and Kalimpong.