GTA seeks transfer of Rohini Road to State PWD

GTA seeks transfer of Rohini Road to State PWD

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING,: Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief executive Anit Thapa
on Friday appealed to the State government to transfer the Rohini Road stretch,
one of the main routes connecting the plains to Darjeeling, to the PWD for
proper maintenance.

The
appeal comes following Darjeeling MP Raju Bista’s announcement that toll tax
collection at Rohini would stop from June 1.

“I
heard about Bista’s announcement that toll tax collection at Rohini would be
stopped. In the agreement signed during the formation of the GTA, it was
mentioned that it would function under the State government. At present, the
BJP government is in the State and Bista’s announcement means that the State
government is speaking,” said Thapa.

“He
might have thought of something while making that declaration and we respect
that. I have instructed the Tourism department, which looks after it, to issue
a notification for the necessary action to close it down from June 1,” he
added, while maintaining that the toll collection had been started following
due legal process.

Thapa
said that after the GTA was formed in 2011, the condition of Rohini Road had
improved and toll tax collection had begun as the GTA received limited funds
from the State government and required money for maintenance. He said that
though toll collection was stopped in 2017 after Binay Tamang took over the
GTA, it had to be restarted later as the road was in poor condition and funds
were needed for repairs.

“It
came under the subject matter of the GTA, so we had done that. But with the GTA
functioning under a State Act, I must honour what the State government directs.
However, the road requires regular maintenance and we do not have sufficient
funds as the State government is not sanctioning much for the GTA,” said Thapa,
claiming that the State government owes around Rs 400 crore to the GTA.

The
GTA chief executive further said that in the past, roads such as Pankhabari
Road, Glenburn Road, Shivkhola Road and Latpanchar Road had been handed over to
the PWD department, after which their condition improved.

“I
request the State government to hand over Rohini Road to the PWD to ensure
public convenience and proper maintenance and quality of the road. We will also
write an official letter on behalf of the GTA,” he said.