Siliguri, 29th October: A Yatri Sathi counter has been launched at Bagdogra Airport to address complaints of tourist harassment and overcharging by taxi drivers. The initiative was taken by Siliguri MLA and West Bengal Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh.
For a long time, complaints had emerged that passengers arriving at the airport were surrounded by multiple taxi drivers as soon as they stepped outside the terminal, leading to difficulties in hiring taxis. There were also allegations that passengers were charged more than the prescribed fares.
After taking note of the complaints, Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh initiated steps to address the issue. He first held meetings with taxi drivers and Bagdogra Airport authorities. Discussions were subsequently held on passenger difficulties and the role of the police. Following these discussions, the decision was taken to introduce the Yatri Sathi counter at the airport.
Through the counter, tourists and other passengers can now enquire about prescribed fares for different routes and hire taxi services accordingly. The initiative is expected to reduce passenger harassment and bring greater transparency to taxi fares.
The Tourism Minister also said there are plans to introduce similar Yatri Sathi counters at other important transport hubs in Siliguri, particularly New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station and Siliguri Junction Railway Station.
The initiative aims to improve convenience for tourists and passengers while ensuring greater transparency in transport fares.
