Sikkim: Gangtok To Nathula Taxi Fare Is Now Fixed By Authorities, No More Overpaying By Tourists; New Fare Inside

No matter where you travel, overcharging tourists is a common practice. To prevent this and encourage tourists, Sikkim has decided to fix the taxi fare between its capital Gangtok and the famous tourist attraction – Nathula. This move comes after many reports of tour operators overcharging the tourists for taxi and permit charges. Read on to know more about this.

Sikkim Fixes Taxi Fare Between Gangtok & Nathula

To prevent tour operators from overcharging tourists, the Sikkim government has fixed the taxi fare between Nathula and Gangtok. As per the order issued by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department of Sikkim, the round-trip fare for luxury and normal vehicles has been fixed at ₹7,000 and ₹6,500, respectively. This fare also includes the permit charge for Nathula.

Issued with immediate effect, this move comes after a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary V B Pathak. It was attended by DGP A K Singh and the officials from Home, Tourism, Civil Aviation Department, and Transport Department.

Also Read: Why Does Sikkim Not Have A Railway Station Till Now?

Strict Charges To Be Taken Against Non-Compliers

To make sure the tour operators in Sikkim comply with the new fixed taxi fares, the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department has made some arrangements. To begin with, the department has made their contact number public, so people can report an issue of overcharging. They have also set up check posts to make sure this order is dutifully followed.

According to the order, anyone found violating the aforementioned rates shall be dealt with strictly in accordance with the relevant provisions. They can be charged under the Central Motor Vehicle Act 1988 & CMV Rules 1989 and Sikkim Motor Vehicles Rules 1991 by the Transport Department.

Here are the contact details shared by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department for aggrieved visitors – 9434182178. Some other numbers that you can also contact are 7908081127 and 9434126851.

Tourism flourishes when people feel welcomed in a place and a beautiful state like Sikkim deserves more tourists. Kudos to the Sikkim authorities for taking this step to prevent overcharging and saving people from the hassle. Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)