By IANS,
Kolkata : There will be no taxis for tourists in West Bengal’s Darjeeling hills Wednesday when the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) holds a rally in Siliguri, the apex body of 48 taxi syndicates has announced.
The All Transport Joint Action Committee is affiliated to the GJM.
“There is a GJM political rally in Siliguri town of the district May 7 and all vehicles of the 48 taxi syndicates under our committee will be busy ferrying GJM supporters up and down the hills,” said committee vice-president Abu Rai.
“But the tourists need not feel harassed. Although no taxis will be available uphill, we are not going to stop vehicles bringing tourists from the plains,” Rai told IANS.
Suggesting an alternative tour plan, he said: “Tourists can take a toy train to places like Ghoom or trek to nearby places of interest like the Darjeeling Himalayan Institute, Nightingale park, Happy Valley tea garden, Lloyd Botanic Garden, Japanese Peace Pagoda and Tibetan Refugee Centre.”
However, tourists would have to postpone trips to places like Mirik and Sukhipokhri that are some distance away from Darjeeling, he added.