Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi (centre) in Kalimpong on Sunday. Bimal Gurung had said on Friday that a Morcha delegation would meet Gandhi to apprise him of their demand. (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha)

Siliguri, Oct. 19: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today announced that two booths to help drivers convert number plates from “West Bengal” to “Gorkhaland” will start functioning from tomorrow.

Not only that, all vehicles would have to change over to the new number plates from tomorrow, failing which they will not be allowed to enter the hills.

However, vehicles registered in states other than West Bengal would not have to sport “GL” number plates. The conversion booths will be set up at Sukna and Sevoke, 7km and 25km from here.

“The cars of the district magistrate, police, subdivisional officer, army, and press, ambulance and goods carriers will be exempted,” Ganesh Pradhan, the chief adviser to Morcha-affiliate All Transport Joint Action Committee told reporters at the end of a meeting in Pintail Village today.

Representatives of some apolitical transport syndicates had attended the meeting. They have agreed to the number plate conversion. Around 600 owners and drivers of light vehicles are members of these syndicates. Citu, the CPM’s labour wing, has 300 drivers as its members. However, the CPM labour wing wields more influence because of the number of heavy vehicles like buses, trucks, goods and commercial carriers, that are under it.

“We have agreed to the conversion. Our vehicles will change number plates at Sukna and ply in the hills. While returning, a similar change would be done before entering Siliguri,” said Kamal Khawas, the secretary of the Siliguri Taxi Owners’ Association that runs 500 vehicles to Darjeeling everyday.

Those moving to Gangtok or Kalimpong would have to change the number plates at Sevoke. “The Morcha leaders have also assured us that they will discuss with their chief the problem of insurance claim in case of ‘GL’ car accidents,” Khawas added.

Ganesh Mahato, the secretary of the Siliguri branch of the Mainline Drivers’ Association, said it was a sport-GL-or-starve to death situation. “As there has been no intervention from the administration’s side so far, our best option is to accept the proposal. Driving cars on this route is our source of livelihood,” said Mahato.