Gangtok, Jan 6: Thousands of taxi drivers and vehicle owners thronged the Yatayat Bhawan (SNT) complex in Gangtok on Sunday, triggering chaotic scenes as they queued to submit documents for the 2026 West Bengal Counter Signature.
Officials estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 applicants gathered at the Transport Department headquarters following a circular issued last month stating that counter signatures would be issued on a “first-come-first-served” basis, effective from January 5.
The announcement prompted a rush of applicants to the capital on the first day of the process. While the large turnout underscored the high demand for the permit, the centralised and manual nature of the application process drew sharp criticism from stakeholders.
Many drivers expressed frustration over the requirement to submit documents in person at the Gangtok office, citing congestion, long waiting hours, and administrative bottlenecks.
“The present system has caused considerable inconvenience,” said one applicant at the venue. “The process could have been decentralised to district offices to ease the crowd. Moreover, in today’s digital age, the absence of an online submission system is a major shortcoming.”
The West Bengal Counter Signature is a mandatory authorisation for Sikkim-registered taxis operating across the state border. It allows drivers to legally pick up passengers within West Bengal for travel into Sikkim.
Transport officials also emphasised that the document is crucial for insurance validity, as accident claims occurring within West Bengal may be rejected in the absence of a valid counter signature.
The situation has renewed calls for the Transport Department to adopt digital and decentralised mechanisms to improve efficiency and reduce hardship for drivers and vehicle owners.
