Anit Thapa Promises Shop-Free Mall Road and Chowrasta from Independence Day

KalimNews, Darjeeling, 28 July 2024 : Anit Thapa, the Chief Executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), has announced that Mall Road and Chowrasta in Darjeeling will be kept shop-free and open from the forthcoming Independence Day. In a recent press release, Thapa stated, "As a gift for Independence Day, I will restore Darjeeling’s Chowrasta and Mall Road to their clean, open, and shop-free condition."

The release highlights that Chowrasta and Mall Road are considered the heart of Darjeeling and house the Mahakal Baba shrine, a significant symbol of local faith. Thapa addressed concerns that pedestrian movement has been hindered by shops operating on the sidewalks. He also acknowledged complaints from devotees regarding the cooking and selling of food around the shrine area.

Chowrasta and Mall Road are crucial not only for local residents but also serve as a major attraction for tourists from across the country and around the world. "We had initially planned to keep these areas clean, beautiful, and open, and we have been working to implement this plan," Thapa explained. He emphasized that while the goal is not to displace shopkeepers, finding them alternative locations for their businesses remains a priority. Previous attempts to resolve the issue with alternative locations had not been successful, but efforts are now underway to address the problem.

Thapa further promised, "I commit to restoring Mall Road to a clean and open state for the residents of Darjeeling. Starting from Independence Day, August 15, no shops will be permitted on Chowrasta and Mall Road. This will be my gift to the people of Darjeeling. Just as residents once enjoyed strolling in the clean and open environment of Mall Road, I will work to bring back that atmosphere."

The release concluded with a call for all citizens to take responsibility for waste disposal and maintain cleanliness. Thapa also appealed to the business community around Chowrasta to support the initiative by helping to keep Darjeeling clean and beautiful and to assist in eliminating the practice of setting up shops on sidewalks.