Sikkim Set To Roll Out Online Permit System For High-Altitude Areas Like Nathu La & Lachen

If the stunning Nathu La and Lachen are on your travel bucket list, then we have some news for you! Sikkim is set to launch an online permit system for tourists travelling to high-altitude regions. With this, the authorities aim to simplify access to sensitive zones. The move is expected to streamline the approval process, reduce long queues at permit offices and offer travellers greater convenience, especially during peak tourist seasons. Here’s all about this.

Sikkim To Introduce Online Permits For Travel In High Altitude Areas

According to The Telegraph, Sikkim is all set to launch an online permit issuance system for travel to high-altitude and border-sensitive areas. The state government is planning a digital overhaul to shift the entire process online and make it smoother and seamless.

While addressing the media, Tourism Department Additional Chief Secretary CS Rao said that the new online permit system is designed to replace manual paperwork for Restricted Area Permits and Protected Area Permits. He added that it will streamline visits to locations such as Nathu La, Tsomgo Lake, Lachen, Lachung and Zuluk.

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All You Need To Know About This

So, how will this online permit system in Sikkim work? CS Rao explained that when travellers apply for a permit online, they will get a QR-based permit. It will allow quicker checks at various security points. The new digital platform also aims to improve monitoring and ensure safer, more regulated movement in ecologically fragile areas. Keeping safety in mind, this digital platform will synchronise data across agencies, including tourism, police, transport, and the Army, to enable real-time verification.

Trial runs are currently being conducted with a small set of operators, and tourism officials say a full-scale rollout is not far off. They expect the new system to reduce delays, streamline tourist movement, and strengthen oversight in sensitive regions.

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More information about this whole system is awaited. Stay tuned to Curly Tales for more travel-related information.

Cover Image Courtesy: X/@beingNEastindia