More Nathu-la car permit plea

Gangtok, June 12: The Travel Agents’ Association of Sikkim yesterday requested the state government to increase the number of permits issued for tourist vehicles bound for the Nathu-la border. Around 70 permits are issued daily four days a week (Monday to Thursday) by the checkpost office in Gangtok for tourist vehicles. “Most of the permits are available for tour operators and not all tourists can be taken to Nathu-la. Given the heavy demand, we suggest that the state government increase the number of vehicles to at least 100 daily,” said Satish Bardewa, the president of TAAS. According to a government order, out of 70 permits, 50 are meant for tour operators, 15 for the tourism department and five for the home department. Located at an altitude of 14,500 feet on the Indo-China border, Nathu-la is a popular tourist destination in Sikkim. It is 56km from here. According to the tour operators, the number of permits was limited to 70 keeping the parking space in mind. Permits for Nathu-la are given one day in advance. Tour operators have to queue up for the permits. “Now the parking area at Nathu-la has been extended and there is enough space to park more vehicles. We request the tourism department to take up the matter with the army as it comes under their purview,” said Baraf Namgyal, the general secretary of TAAS. The additional secretary of the state tourism department, Namrata Thapa, said the department was pursuing the matter with the army. “The department is regularly hearing the matter, however, the army does not want to increase the number of permits because of bad road conditions, frequent landslides and the fragile landscape. It may take some time,” said Thapa.