At the heart of the disagreement lies the issue of jurisdiction, with taxi syndicates from Darjeeling expressing strong opposition to the practice of Siliguri-based drivers conducting sightseeing tours within the hills, especially in key tourist spots such as Tiger Hill. Passang Sherpa, convener of the Himalayan Transport Coordination Committee (HTCC), which represents the Darjeeling-based taxi operators, reiterated their position, stating: “It is our request that taxi drivers from Siliguri and other states not be allowed to do local sightseeing in Darjeeling. We have no issues with them picking up passengers from Darjeeling to the plains, but for us, it is an issue of preserving our local employment and revenue.”

The HTCC’s stance is rooted in the concern that allowing drivers from the plains to operate in the hills would undermine the local taxi industry, which depends on the region’s tourism and provides livelihoods for a significant number of local drivers. The committee argued that there is an unwritten rule that drivers should not cross the jurisdictional boundaries between the hills and plains, thus protecting the employment opportunities and income of hill-based taxi drivers.

In contrast, taxi operators from Siliguri and surrounding areas argued that their right to conduct local sightseeing tours was within the bounds of the law. These operators, many of whom pay taxes and licence fees to the government, emphasised that their business operations should not be limited by such geographical restrictions. They pointed out that their drivers are also licensed and should be permitted to operate within the entire state, including tourist spots in the hills, without discrimination.

Despite the conflicting viewpoints, the Darjeeling district administration called for mutual cooperation between both groups, stressing that the ongoing disruptions in transport services could severely harm the district’s tourism industry, which plays a key role in the local economy. The administration urged all transport operators to maintain the status quo and refrain from disrupting services, especially as the region enters its peak tourism season.

Samrat Sanyal, a prominent tourism stakeholder, also voiced his support for maintaining the existing framework. “The Additional District Magistrate clearly instructed us to follow the existing rules under which drivers from the Dooars and Terai region are allowed to ferry tourists for sightseeing in the hills,” he said, urging both sides to honour the established guidelines to avoid further disputes.

However, despite the administration’s appeal, the HTCC voiced their frustration with the way the meeting unfolded. Sherpa expressed his dissatisfaction, noting: “We have submitted several memoranda and deputations to the administration regarding issues like traffic, road conditions, fares, taxes, and others, but no meeting had been called until now. When it comes to addressing issues in the plains, we are suddenly invited for an urgent meeting.”

The district administration, however, maintained that the transport issues needed to be resolved in a manner that would not disturb the local economy, particularly the tourism sector. The authorities cautioned that if disruptions in transport services continued, it would have a detrimental effect on Darjeeling’s tourism potential, which is vital for sustaining the livelihoods of many locals, including those dependent on transport services.

The stalemate highlights the deepening tensions between hill and plains taxi operators, who are caught in a complex dispute that touches upon local economic interests, employment concerns, and the broader issue of governance and jurisdiction. As the discussions remain unresolved, both sides are likely to continue advocating for their respective positions, with the tourism season approaching and the stakes growing higher for both the local economy and community relations in the region.

Yowan Mothay, Kalimpong, December 11, 2025: The West Bengal Government’s ambitious Pathashree IV Scheme has taken a significant step forward with the inauguration of 43 new roads in Kalimpong district. The foundation stones for these projects were laid on Wednesday in a virtual ceremony led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, marking a milestone in the region’s infrastructure development.

District Magistrate Kuhuk Bhushan, addressing the media, revealed that these 43 new roads will stretch over a combined length of 106 kilometres, with the total cost of the projects exceeding Rs 78 crore. The inauguration ceremony was held at various locations across the district where construction is set to begin.

In a bid to keep the public well-informed about these developments, the district administration has taken proactive steps, installing informative hoardings at strategic points, distributing leaflets, and deploying a tableau to spread awareness across rural areas. These efforts aim to ensure that residents are aware of the benefits and progress of the new road projects.

The District Magistrate also highlighted that proposals for additional road projects, which were left incomplete in earlier phases, have already been submitted to the state government for approval. Bhushan encouraged citizens to contribute to the ongoing development by submitting proposals for new roads either to the Kalimpong District Administration or to any Block Development Office in the region.

MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha, addressing the media, expressed his satisfaction with the inauguration of 43 new roads, which will connect 43 villages. He called the project a significant achievement for Kalimpong, saying, “It is a matter of happiness that we are able to deliver something meaningful for the people who trust us. Providing road connectivity to 43 villages is no small thing.”

Lepcha further emphasized that these road projects had been long-awaited by local residents, who have been pushing for improved infrastructure. He also mentioned that proposals for an additional 47 road projects have been forwarded to the state government for future consideration.

The initiative, part of the state government’s Pathashree IV Scheme, aims to improve connectivity and boost infrastructure in rural and urban areas of West Bengal, enhancing transportation and creating new opportunities for the people of Kalimpong.

Local residents alerted authorities after spotting the sack near a garbage heap in Shantipur, which was initially thought to contain garbage. Upon closer inspection, the sack was found to have torn open, and a large number of voter cards spilled out. Authorities were quickly informed, and a police team was dispatched to the scene to seize the voter cards and transport them to the police station for further verification.

According to reports, the cards appeared to be from a range of constituencies, with many of them linked to North 24 Parganas. In total, the sack reportedly contained around 400 to 500 voter cards, along with additional documents. This raised further suspicions, given the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, which has been underway since November 4 and is scheduled to conclude on December 11. During this period, voter cards and other electoral documents are being carefully scrutinised.

A police officer confirmed that an inquiry had been initiated to determine how and why the voter cards were discarded at the location. Investigators are working to ascertain whether they were discarded accidentally, or if there is a more deliberate attempt to influence the electoral process.

The discovery has sparked a political controversy, with local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders accusing members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately dumping the cards in the area. Tapan Sarkar, a TMC leader and member of the Shantipur Panchayat Samiti, claimed that the cards had been brought from other districts and dumped strategically ahead of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s scheduled visit to Krishnanagar later in the evening. “The Chief Minister will be passing through this National Highway No. 12. So, before that, all these cards have been taken from other districts and dumped. This is the work of the BJP,” Sarkar alleged.

The BJP, however, denied the accusation, claiming that the area where the voter cards were found falls under the jurisdiction of the TMC-run Panchayat. A BJP leader dismissed the claims, saying that the cards discovered were likely part of the same pool of voter cards used for alleged bogus voting in the past.

The discovery of the discarded voter cards comes at a time when the Election Commission is closely monitoring the revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The process, which involves the distribution and digitisation of enumeration forms, has already stirred political debate across the state, with both the ruling TMC and opposition parties accusing each other of manipulating the electoral process.

As tensions mount, this latest incident has added fuel to the political fire, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral system in the state. With political figures from both parties making competing claims, it remains to be seen how the police investigation will unfold and whether any action will be taken regarding the discarded voter cards.

The situation continues to develop, and further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.