7,000 taxis to re-affix WB plates

DARJEELING, Oct. 23: Around 7,000 taxis in the three Hills sub-divisions would re-affix ‘West Bengal’ registration plates on their vehicles after the GJMM yesterday suspended the GL plate implementation programme for taxis and commercial vehicles.

“Altogether 13,000 converted to GL plates since the start of the programme. Darjeeling accounts for 6,000 of the 13,000. Nearly 7,000 taxis and carriers would re-sport WB registration plates from today”, the All Transport Joint Action Committee (ATJAC) president, Mr Narbu Lama, said.

The programme, which began in June, made it mandatory for all Hills vehicles to bear GL plates. Tension erupted when GJMM supporters forced taxis plying to and from the Hills to sport GL number plates from 7 October. The GJMM diktat on the matter evoked protests in the plains in the form of strikes by several Siliguri-based organisations along with Citu (the CPI-M’s labour wing). However, the GJMM's suspension of the programme yesterday followed a request from the state Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi.

Before the programme’s suspension, at least six drivers from New Jalpaiguri who refused to sport GL plates were manhandled near Kurseong. Two GL registration booths were dismantled at Sukna and six GL plate vehicles were seized from Siliguri.
The ATJAC has decided to bear legal expenses of these vehicles along with 11 others that were damaged and burnt in the Siliguri, Terai and Dooars region. “We have collected a registration charge of Rs 30 from each vehicle. The amount would be used for the legal proceedings involved”, Mr Lama stated.