Darjeeling’s old buildings to go for parking space

Darjeeling, Nov. 17: The Darjeeling Municipality will dismantle 30-odd buildings owned by it across the town to create parking lots.

“These two-storied buildings are almost 100 years old. We want to pull them down and construct four-storied structures in their places. The basements will be kept for parking vehicles,” said Pemba Tshering Ola, the chairman of the civic body.

The decision was prompted by an accident in which a 14-year-old boy was crushed under the wheels of an army vehicle on November 13. The death of Harsh Agarawal, a student of St Jospeh’s School (North Point), triggered a mob frenzy, shutting down the hill town for two days.

The boy was trying to move away when the killer vehicle started reversing at Chowk Bazar. But Harsh fell, as the bend there was narrow and over crowded and the truck ran over him.

Ola said the project would be taken up by the planning cell of the municipality that would be formed by December. “We are inviting all who can put forward their proposals for town planning.”

Ola added that the new buildings would be constructed through public-private partnership.“Once these properties are developed, we will shift there roadside hawkers to decongest the pavements.”

A meeting was held in the chamber of district magistrate and it was attended by Ola, army officers and those associated with the transport industry. The magistrate, Surendra Gupta, said it had been agreed that even heavy vehicles of the army would stop plying in the town between 8am and 6pm. As of now, only heavy vehicles of civilians are barred from entering the town during the time.

The district administration, along with the municipality, will conduct a survey in the town and remove parking spaces from crowded areas. “We will also look for alternative parking sites. If the areas are owned by various government departments, the help of district administration is assured,” said Gupta.