Share taxis will not ply on August 21 between Siliguri & Darjeeling

MP | 17 Aug 2023 | Siliguri: The Terai Chalak Sangathan has decided not to ply share taxis on the Darjeeling-Siliguri route on August 21. The private share taxis, plying between Siliguri and Darjeeling via Rohini have alleged that they are facing problems due to the state government buses. 

On the day, they will organise a rally in Siliguri and will submit a deputation to the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Officer with their demand. “The number of government buses has increased noticeably. 

Due to this, huge traffic jams occur on Rohini Road. We are getting fewer passengers. We demand that the number of NBSTC buses plying on this route should be cut down or the buses should ply on a different route. We will organise a rally and a meeting on this demand,” said Meheboob Khan, the Secretary of the organization. 

About 1200 share passenger vehicles are plying between Siliguri and Darjeeling. This includes 500 vehicles under this organisation. About 16 buses of NBSTC have been plying from Siliguri to Darjeeling using the road via Rohini. The shared taxi fare is Rs 250 per head whereas the buses charge Rs 105 per passenger. 

The taxi drivers have alleged that they are facing huge losses owing to the NBSTC busses. They demanded that buses should ply through National Highway Number 55 instead of Rohini or that the number of buses must be reduced. 

On August 21, they will start the rally from Dagapur and a meeting will be held at the ground in Dagapur. However, daily passengers claim that during the tourist rush, the local share taxis usually hike fares by creating artificial crises. 

They usually stay away from the stands and syndicates and then demand exorbitant fares in the guise of the dearth of vehicles. There are also allegations that during peak tourist season they are reluctant to take passengers on a seat basis and insist that the whole vehicle is reserved. 

At this time, the NBSTC buses emerge as saviours. 

Courtesy & source- Millennium Post

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/share-taxis-will-not-ply-on-august-21-between-siliguri-darjeeling-529543