Protest over toto ban in Siliguri

TT, 18 Jun 2019, Siliguri: The Siliguri Metropolitan Police and the district administration have stopped plying of totos, particularly those which do not have identity numbers issued by the civic body, in the prominent areas across the town from Monday.

In Siliguri, there are 4,000 odd totos which have Temporary Identification Numbers (TANs) issued by the SMC. Apart from these, there are another 10,000 totos which move in the city without the identity number.

The decision to impose the ban, that has been taken up to reduce traffic congestion.

Also, a section of toto operators (drivers and owners) have resorted to demonstration. On Monday, a group of toto operators walked to the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and demonstrated there and submitted a memorandum to mayor Asok Bhattacharya.

"The abrupt movement of totos across the town has led serious traffic congestion. The inconvenience faced by the people made us decide to re- A policeman stops a toto in Siliguri on Monday. Picture by Passang Yolmo strict the movement of these vehicles in all major roads from Monday. Raids have been conducted only against the totos which do not have TAN. But restrictions will be imposed gradually over the movement of all such vehicles on major roads of the town," said a source in the administration. Sources said the toto drivers have sought similar steps against the movement of autos in the town. "The e-rickshaws run in batteries and do not pollute the environment unlike the autos. We want the administration to ban movement of autos in the town and allow totos to move freely without any restriction. We are ready to pay licence fees and other taxes," said one of the agitating toto drivers at the SMC.