Cops, civic body launch helplines for tourists visiting Sikkim during festive season

 Both the police and the civic body will also run assistance booths at key transit points in and around the city through which thousands of tourists will cross from next week onwards

TT, Siliguri, 13.10.23 : The Siliguri Metropolitan Police and Siliguri Municipal Corporation have launched helpline numbers to enable a hassle-free visit for tourists in the region during the festive season.

On Thursday, the police announced two helpline numbers — 0353-2691413 in New Jalpaiguri police station and 0353-2551242 in Bagdogra airport outpost under Bagdogra police station.

“Our personnel will attend the calls made at the helpline numbers and extend necessary aid to tourists during their travel,” said a police officer.

The SMC, on the other hand, will open its helpline (7557035194) on October 19.

“It will be operational till October 25 from 7am to 2pm,” said mayor Gautam Deb.

On Thursday, Deb held a meeting on the preparations ahead of the Durga Puja in the SMC. Officials from the police, regional transport office, state tourism department, subdivisional information and cultural affairs department and representatives of tour operators were present at the meeting.

Deb said he urged officials of the transport department to take necessary measures so that a tourist arriving at transit points does not face problems like being overcharged by cab drivers.

He also asked officials of North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) — a state government undertaking — to provide bus services for Kalimpong district up to Lava and Loleygaon.

“The bus service will help tourists who want to visit Kalimpong or Sikkim as the direct road connectivity from Siliguri to Kalimpong and Sikkim along NH10 snapped because of the flash flood,” said the mayor.

Both the police and the civic body will also run assistance booths at key transit points in and around the city through which thousands of tourists will cross from next week onwards.

While the police will set up booths at Bagdogra airport and New Jalpaiguri railway station, the SMC will put up booths at the same railway station and Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus, said sources.