Siliguri, July 5 -- In a major initiative to ensure the safety and convenience of tourists visiting Siliguri, the Siliguri Police Commissionerate on Sunday launched a dedicated Tourist Helpline number. Alongside this, a special Traffic Marshal Force has been introduced to tackle the city's growing traffic congestion.
The new services were officially inaugurated during a programme held at Mainak Tourist Lodge in Siliguri. The event was attended by State Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh, Syed Waquar Raza, the Commissioner of police, the District Magistrate (DM), Additional District Magistrate (ADM), of Darjeeling, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic and several other senior administrative officials.
Officials said that tourists visiting Siliguri can now contact the dedicated helpline number, 9800242426, if they face any inconvenience, harassment, or require police assistance. The Police Commissionerate will respond promptly to provide the necessary support and ensure a hassle-free experience for visitors. To address one of the city's major civic concerns-traffic congestion-the Commissionerate has also formed a special Traffic Marshal Force. The marshals will be deployed across key locations in the city to regulate traffic, respond swiftly to congestion, and monitor major roads through regular patrols. They will take immediate action whenever traffic bottlenecks or other related issues arise.
Speaking at the event, Tourism minister Shankar Ghosh said: "The Police Commissionerate frequently receives complaints from tourists regarding various issues during their visit to Siliguri. Keeping those concerns in mind, the dedicated Tourist Helpline has been introduced to enhance visitor safety and provide timely assistance."
He added that the formation of the Traffic Marshal Force is another significant step towards improving traffic management and ensuring smoother movement across the city. A total of 10 police personnel, including a Traffic Sub-Inspector (SI) and civic volunteers, have been deployed in the team. Five motorcycles have been provided to them for patrolling. The Traffic SI will be equipped with body-worn cameras.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.