Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Tourism Body Complains Over Hill Drivers’ Sightseeing Appeal
A group representing tourism businesses in north Bengal complained about a message from hill taxi drivers.
The hill drivers asked cab drivers from Siliguri and the plains not to take tourists sightseeing in the hills from September.
The tourism group said the message was not an official government order.
It worried that the message could confuse tourists and drivers.
It also said the disagreement could cause problems with law and order.
Hill taxi owners say outside cabs are hurting their business.
Many cabs from Siliguri travel with tourists to destinations in the hills every day.
Officials have been asked to look into the complaint.
The Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network complained to Darjeeling’s superintendent of police.
The complaint followed an appeal by hill drivers urging plains-based cab drivers to stop hill sightseeing trips from September.
The tourism body said the appeal was circulated on social media without a lawful order or official notification.
Hill taxi owners believe cabs from the plains are affecting their sightseeing business in the hills.
Around 200 cabs from Siliguri and nearby areas take tourists to hill and plains destinations each day.
- Who
- The Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network and the Sanjukta Chalak Mancha, an association of Darjeeling hill cab drivers.
- What
- The tourism body lodged a complaint over the hill drivers’ appeal asking plains-based cab drivers to stop sightseeing trips in the hills from September.
- When
- The Sanjukta Chalak Mancha issued the appeal after a meeting on Thursday; it asked that the restriction begin in September.
- Where
- The dispute concerns sightseeing trips in the Darjeeling hills and involves cab operators from Siliguri and the surrounding plains.
- Why
- Hill taxi owners believe plains-based cabs are affecting their business, while the tourism body fears the appeal could cause confusion and conflict.
Tourism Stakeholders
Hill Cab Drivers
Legality of the Appeal
Tourism Stakeholders
The Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network said the social-media appeal was unlawful because it was not backed by an official notification or lawful order.
Hill Cab Drivers
The Sanjukta Chalak Mancha issued the appeal after a meeting, asking plains-based drivers not to conduct hill sightseeing trips from September.
Business Competition
Tourism Stakeholders
The tourism body opposed a restriction that could affect tourist transport operations involving drivers from both the hills and the plains.
Hill Cab Drivers
Hill taxi owners believe their businesses are being affected when cabs from the plains take tourists to destinations in the hills.
Potential Consequences
Tourism Stakeholders
The tourism body warned that the appeal could create confusion, apprehension, conflict and a possible law-and-order situation.
Hill Cab Drivers
The hill drivers’ statement focused on limiting outside sightseeing operations; the article does not state their response to the complaint.
- Complainant
- Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network
- Complaint recipient
- Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling
- Drivers’ association
- Sanjukta Chalak Mancha
- Requested restriction
- Plains-based cab drivers were urged not to conduct sightseeing trips in the hills from September.
- Complaint concern
- The tourism body said the appeal could create confusion, apprehension and conflict, potentially leading to a law-and-order situation.
- Daily cab movement
- Around 200 cabs from Siliguri and nearby areas take tourists to destinations in the hills and plains every day.
- Copies sent to
- The Bengal transport and tourism ministers and the Darjeeling MP.