The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) is working on a proposal to reduce random parking that causes traffic snarls in the hill towns of Darjeeling and Kurseong, especially during tourist season.

The hill administrative body has identified two locations to develop parking lots, Rohini Road near Kurseong, and close to Ghoom on the outskirts of Darjeeling town.

Anit Thapa, the chief executive of the GTA, said: “We have found a plot of the state PWD near Darjeeling and have written to the authorities for a no-objection certificate so that we can set up a parking lot. Another plot on a tea garden land has been identified at Rohini Road near Kurseong.”

Thapa said this on Sunday, when he was talking to newspersons on the sidelines of an event in Dagapur, on the northern outskirts of Siliguri, where he laid the foundation stone of a rest house for hill drivers.

The GTA, he said, would spend around Rs 60 lakh for the project to be ready within the next six months.

“There will be provisions for accommodation and food at the rest house. Drivers from the hills, who often spend days and nights in Siliguri, can avail the facility. There are plans to arrange space where they can park vehicles during their stay,” said a source.

In the hills, parking of vehicles is a major issue. During tourist seasons, it takes an hour to reach Darjeeling from Ghoom owing to severe traffic jams on NH55, the principal highway that connects the hill town.

“We will speak with the management of the tea garden on the project. Once we get approval, work will start in both locations,” said Thapa.

The proposed parking lot near Ghoom, GTA sources said, can help ease traffic as it is located at the juncture of roads connecting Darjeeling with Siliguri, Kalimpong and Mirik.

“The parking lot is also needed in Kurseong as there is hardly any place in the town to park a vehicle. There is a plan to build a space in both locations (Kurseong and Darjeeling) so that at least 100 light vehicles can be parked at a time,” the source added.