Siliguri Metropolitan Police and the Trinamul-run Siliguri Municipal Corporation are collaborating on a traffic management plan post Lok Sabha elections. The police’s traffic department submitted a PowerPoint to the civic body, proposing solutions like regulating e-rickshaws and relocating bus stands to ease congestion. Plans include moving the local bus stand to Tinbatti More and building a new terminus near Darjeeling More.
City officials emphasize the urgent need to streamline traffic flow throughout Siliguri, particularly during peak hours when major roads become congested. The unregulated movement of e-rickshaws and unauthorized parking of private buses bound for destinations such as Kolkata, as well as regions in south Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Assam, are cited as significant contributors to the traffic gridlock.
Previous efforts to relocate the local bus stand to Tinbatti More have encountered legal challenges, hindering progress on the project. Despite these setbacks, Mayor Gautam Deb is taking proactive steps to address the issue. He plans to meet with principal secretaries from the state transport department and the state urban development and municipal affairs department in Kolkata to seek their intervention.
Moreover, Mayor Deb aims to secure funding for a new bus terminus at Paribahan Nagar in Matigara. This initiative would enable the municipality to shift buses operating on interstate routes, as well as those bound for Kolkata, to the new terminus, thereby alleviating congestion in key areas of Siliguri.
In sum, the collaborative efforts between the Siliguri Metropolitan Police and the Siliguri Municipal Corporation underscore a proactive approach to tackling the city’s persistent traffic challenges. By implementing the proposed recommendations and seeking support from relevant authorities, officials are committed to improving traffic management and enhancing the overall quality of life for Siliguri residents
