Darjeeling, Aug. 30 -- The Himalayan Hospital and Tourism Development Network (HHTDN), an apex body of tourism stakeholders in North Bengal, has filed a formal complaint with the Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling, seeking immediate intervention against the circulation of "disturbing and potentially misleading" social media messages claiming that vehicles registered in the plains will be banned from local sightseeing and visiting Tiger Hill in the Darjeeling Hills from September 1, 2026.
Complaints have also been sent to the ministers in charge of Tourism and Transport, along with the Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling. Sanjukta Chalak Manch (SCM), an association of Hill drivers that had issued the notice, has since "postponed" the proposed restriction.
Incidentally, on August 27, the SCM issued a notice stating that all drivers and vehicle owners of Siliguri-based vehicles should abstain from local sightseeing services, including visits to Tiger Hill in Darjeeling, from September 1 onwards, claiming that the decision was in the interest of "maintaining the livelihoods and rights of local drivers". The SCM added that the committee would visit and monitor the situation at all local sightseeing points.
The complaint by Tanmoy Goswami, General Secretary of the HHTDN, expressed deep concern over the lack of official validation of these claims.
The network stressed that no lawful order or official notification had been issued by any competent authority to enforce such a restriction.
"The timing of these rumours is particularly critical as the region approaches its peak festive tourist season," stated Goswami. HHTDN highlighted that such messages could trigger massive cancellations of bookings, disrupt transport schedules and severely harm the local tourism ecosystem.
In its appeal to the SP, Darjeeling, HHTDN formally requested that the matter be registered as a complaint and that the origin and authenticity of the posts be investigated.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.