Tourism & Civil Aviation Department Holds Stakeholders' Meeting on Online Permit System Under Sikkim Inspires
Gangtok, Aug 5 (IPR): The Tourism & Civil Aviation (T&CA) Department held a stakeholders' meeting at the Conference Hall, Paryatan Bhawan, under Sikkim Inspires.
The main agenda of the meeting was to brief line departments, tourism organisations and drivers' associations on the new online permit system.
The conference was chaired by Minister for Commerce & Industries and Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Mr T T Bhutia. Also in attendance were MLA-cum-Advisor, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Mr Sudesh Kumar Subba, Chairman, STDC, Mr Lukendra Rasaily, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Mr Raj Kumar Yadav, and IG Checkpost, Sikkim Police, Mr Hari Chettri.
Addressing the gathering, Mr T T Bhutia expressed deep gratitude to Sikkim's tourism stakeholders, travel agents, transport operators and officials, highlighting their vital role in sustaining the state's primary economic engine. He reinforced that elevating Sikkim's tourism sector required strong mutual dependence and cooperation between stakeholders and the Department. He informed that, to modernise operations and improve the ease of doing business, the Government was rolling out an AI-powered single-window online permit system designed to streamline permit issuance for restricted areas like Nathula Pass and North Sikkim through a fast, transparent digital portal.
Mr T T Bhutia reassured local operators by explaining that the platform was geofenced within Sikkim, using restricted IP addresses so that only Sikkim-registered travel agencies could generate permits, preventing misuse from outside regional hubs.
Furthermore, Mr T T Bhutia stated that the system incorporated flexible vehicle regulations that empowered local drivers to select appropriate transport based on real-time weather and terrain, while an automated notification feature ensured that tourists settled package fees with local operators before receiving their permits.
The Minister noted that, as with any new initiative, initial challenges were to be expected, but expressed confidence that close collaboration between the Department and stakeholders would resolve these once the system became operational.
Mr T T Bhutia also informed that, to improve the ground experience, the Department had standardised local conservation and garbage fees with regional committees, eliminating repetitive charges along tourist routes, and had launched major infrastructure upgrades at Nathula, including expanded parking, new stairs and escalators to ease high-altitude congestion. Highlighting transport drivers as Sikkim's core brand ambassadors, he urged them to uphold warm hospitality and positive conduct. He noted that travel agents had been entrusted with significant responsibility under the new system, expressing confidence in their ability to make sound, informed decisions.
The Minister reinforced that Sikkim's natural assets, culture, cuisine and adventure sports remained its core economic drivers and that protecting and developing these assets must remain a shared priority as digital initiatives evolved. Lastly, he reassured stakeholders that the Department continued to work entirely in the best interests of the people of Sikkim.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Mr Raj Kumar Yadav, presented a detailed overview of the online permit system. His presentation covered permit categories, eligibility criteria, user access levels and general system functionality. Mr Raj Kumar Yadav highlighted that integrated online payments and application tracking would significantly streamline the permit process.
Additionally, he outlined the responsibilities of permit approving officers and system users, core issuance rules and a step-by-step walkthrough of application creation and validation for both tour operators and permit officers. The presentation further addressed permit generation and synchronisation, vehicle arrival and check-post processing, and exit verification.
Concluding the presentation, Mr Raj Kumar Yadav presented updated rate charts for key destinations like Nathula, Baba Mandir, Doklam, Lachung, Lachen, Yumthang and Gurudongmar, alongside new regulatory guidelines, manual controls and anti-sabotage monitoring measures.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Secretary, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Ms Hondala Gyaltsen. She explained that the initiative had originated directly from stakeholders' requests to simplify the current, cumbersome process of obtaining separate permits across multiple departments. Following these requests, she noted that the concept had been presented during the departmental coordination meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Singh Tamang, in November 2025, where it had received endorsement from the Chief Secretary.
Ms Hondala Gyaltsen also stated that subsequent consultative meetings had been held with stakeholders and regional bodies such as the Dzumsa to ensure that the platform would effectively track tourist inflow and streamline operations. She urged the attendees to participate actively, share constructive feedback and address any doubts.
Following the programme, representatives of various travel agency groups, drivers' associations and police personnel engaged in an interactive, in-depth discussion. Participants commended the Department for the new initiative while raising constructive suggestions and seeking clarification regarding the upcoming portal.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Joint Director, Permit Cell, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Mr Sonam Rinchen.
The meeting was also attended by Special Secretary, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Dr Prerna Chamling, Additional Director, Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Mr Tenzing Gelay Bhutia, Additional Superintendent of Police, Secretary, STA, Traffic Police personnel, representatives from Motor Vehicle Department, TAAS, SAATO, SUTO, ASTHA, SHRA, Bike Rental Association, All Sikkim Luxury Vehicles Association, Drivers cum Owners Association, Joint Action Committee, North Sikkim Drivers cum Owners Association, Taxi Drivers cum Owners Association, JN and RN Road Drivers Association, South Sikkim Drivers cum Owners Association, Joint Action Committee, and officials from the T&CA Department.
Report from DIO-GANGTOK