Frustrated over dismal road condition in Dooars, locals start repair work

File photo

EOI, Jalpaiguri, 20 Nov 2014: Frustrated over the dismal condition of roads and the administration’s apathy, businessmen in the tourism sector backed by the Gorkha Territorial Administration and local people have taken upon themselves to repair the roads ahead of the tourism season. Roads in tourist hotspots such as Samsing, Ranki, Phari and Suntalay among others are in a bad condition and the administration has not done anything to repair it. With a large number of tourists expected to reach the Dooars region during the winter break in December and January, the local people and businessmen today started the repair work on their own.

Places such as Mateli, Chalsa, Samsing, Ranki, Phari and Suntalay in the Dooars region are known for their scenic beauty and thousands of people throng these areas during the tourism season. But, the roads leading to these facilities and many resorts dotting the area are in a bad shape.

Samsing-based home-stay owner Prakash Chettri said the area in which the road passed through was under Dooars Territorial Administration, while the other surrounding areas fall under West Bengal Forest Department. “We have informed both the department about the dismal condition of the road on a number of occasions, but nothing has been done,” he claimed. 

North Bengal Forest Department’s regional manager Bir Bahadur Mukhiya said the information about the condition of the roads in the Dooars region have been sent to the higher authorities. “The area falls under the GTA, which is why we cannot do anything more about it,” Mukhiya stated, washing his hand off the issue.

Dooars-based GJM leader and area GTA secretary Kamal Giri confirmed the area falls under the GTA, despite being a forest department area. “We have informed about the issue to the GTA Sabha. Soon a team from the administration will visit the area to take stock of condition of the road and will take appropriate action,” he added. The road repair work today was also attended by local GJM supporters along with drivers and businessmen related to tourism.