Darjeeling Bus Stand area as an unsafe zone

DARJEELING, 24 NOV: Tension gripped Darjeeling bus stand today as the administration removed the buses that were stranded in the area, acting on the announcement made a few days ago that declared the area around the bus stand as an unsafe zone. But the bus owners were unhappy, as they alleged that the district administration had acted without making proper arrangements for an alternative parking space. “This is a hasty decision the administration has taken. This would compound the problem rather than solve it,” said an aggrieved bus owner.  However, the residents, by and large, are happy with the administration having acted on the announcement. “The pillars on which the bus terminus is standing have developed cracks. These seem to be on the brink of crumbling. If, by any chance, these collapse there would be several casualties, as around 25 people are doing trades and residing underneath the structure,” a resident of Darjeeling dwelling near the bus terminus said.
It has been learnt from the locals that the terminus was built in 1935.  According to the administrative officials, the bus stand, spread over an area of 2,040 sq ft, would make way for a multi-purpose parking zone.
But the bus owners are sulking. By way of protest, they parked their buses horizontally just aside the main road today after the vehicles were removed from the bus stand. This further compounded traffic congestion. “The administrative step is arbitrary. They have given us no assurance as to an alternative parking space,” said the general secretary of the Local Mini Bus Owners’ Association, Mr Satyapriya Chettri. sns