Archive · 12 Dec 2025
Darjeeling Admin Mediates Taxi Tensions Threatening Tourism
There's a problem in Darjeeling, India, where taxi drivers from the hills and the plains are having a disagreement.
The hill drivers are stopping the plains drivers from taking tourists on sightseeing trips, even though the plains drivers have the right permits.
This has been going on for a long time and is hurting the tourism business.
The plains drivers even protested and said they would give up their permits if the problem isn't fixed.
Now, the local government is trying to solve this issue by having a meeting with all the involved groups.
They will talk virtually from two different places to try and find a solution that works for everyone.
Darjeeling district administration called a virtual meeting with tourism and transport stakeholders to resolve tensions between hill and plains taxi drivers.
Tensions have been rising for two weeks, with plains drivers alleging they were prevented from operating local sightseeing trips in the hills.
Plains drivers staged a protest and gave the administration a 24-hour ultimatum to resolve the issue, threatening to surrender their vehicle documents.
Tour operators and drivers’ bodies welcomed the meeting as a step toward resolving a long-standing issue affecting the tourism industry.
The meeting will be held virtually, with participants joining from the plains and the hills.
- Who
- Darjeeling district administration, tour operators, transporters, drivers’ associations
- What
- Meeting to resolve tensions between hill and plains taxi drivers
- When
- Thursday
- Where
- Darjeeling, India
- Why
- To address issues affecting the tourism industry and prevent further protests
- Location
- Darjeeling, India
- Stakeholders Involved
- Tour operators, transporters, drivers’ associations
- Meeting Format
- Virtual
- Number of Taxi Operators
- 2,500
- Issue Duration
- Years
- Protest Ultimatum
- 24 hours
- Meeting Date
- Thursday
