SILIGURI ROAD MENACE ....Crack at traffic unclogging

TT, 24 June 2019, Siliguri: The Bengal government has finally decided to take an initiative to address the issue of traffic congestion, one of the key problems plaguing Siliguri, the most important city in north Bengal and the gateway to the Northeast.
Traffic congestion on Hill Cart Road in Siliguri State tourism minister Gautam Deb, who also hails from the city, said here on Sunday that he would have a meeting with state transport minister Suvendu Adhikari in Calcutta on Tuesday to discuss and decide on a number of issues, particularly the indiscriminate plying of local light vehicles, which is adding to congestion and also is causing pollution in Siliguri.
Over the past few days, the traffic wing of Siliguri Metropolitan Police has initiated a drive to prevent running of e-rickshaws (totos) which do not have identification numbers issued by the local civic body, from plying in prominent roads of the city.
In Siliguri, there are around 3,400 totos which have such identification numbers while another 30,000 run without such numbers. Over past three four years, these three-wheelers have hit the roads and have only added to the already congested roads in and around Siliguri.
Also, none of these vehicles run in any specific route, which further complicates the situation
"The recent decision to regulate e-rickshaws movement over main roads of the city has reduced congestion to some extent. We have similar plans to impose regulation on movement on city autos. I will hold a meeting with the state transport minister on Tuesday where elaborate discussions would be made as how transport movement can be improved in and around Siliguri," said Deb.

Along with the totos, around 1,200 city autos which ply across the city and is an important mode of public transport. However, most of these have become old and belches smoke beyond emission standards.

Earlier this year, the state had taken an initiative to provide four-wheelers which meet pollution variants to auto owners so that they replace their vehicles. But the plan got stuck due to some technical glitch.

"We will adhere to the plan so that the autos are replaced. If required, we will arrange loans to the auto owners so that they can buy and run the new vehicles," the minister added.

Since 2011, the state has executed some projects in surrounding areas of Siliguri, some of which like the Asian Highway­II, were taken up in association with the Centre. An alternative road to the neighbouring town of Jalpaiguri has been built, while the work to repair and widen the Eastern Bypass and a flyover in Burdwan Road of the town that connects the AH-II is in progress.

"However, no initiative was taken to decongest Hill Cart Road, Sevoke Road and Bidhan Road, which are busy thoroughfares here. Darjeeling More, the principal entry point to the city, always remains congested. The number of vehicles in the city is on the rise and no step has been taken to restrict movement of public vehicles which enter Siliguri every day from the hills, the neighbouring districts and states. In these days, sometimes it takes 15 minutes to cover a kilometre of road," said Swapan Dutta, a retired banker.

The minister, when asked about other plans, said they will also carry out drives to clear encroachments in footpaths and stop abrupt parking of long distance buses and public transport in the city. "Such drives would be carried out on a regular basis," he added.