Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: The Sikkim BJP wants the state government to keep a tight grip on its upcoming AI-powered permit system. Party spokesperson Passang Sherpa announced the party’s conditional support for the Integrated Single Window platform on August 17 in Gangtok. The system will handle Restricted Area Permits and Protected Area Permits for sensitive border regions.
The government plans to use this tech to replace manual paperwork for travel to areas like Nathu La and North Sikkim. The project falls under the Sikkim Inspires program, recently approved during a meeting led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. Plans include geofencing the system to ensure permits only come from Sikkim-registered agencies using restricted IP addresses.
Sherpa warned against outsourcing this sensitive infrastructure to private firms. He highlighted the strategic nature of the border state as a reason to keep the data under government oversight. "We have no objection to an Integrated Single Window led by an AI system for issuance of Restricted and Protected Area Permit bookings," Sherpa said.
The BJP also pushed back against rumored plans to raise permit costs. Currently, foreign nationals pay roughly Rs 200 for Protected Area Permits in spots like Tsomgo Lake, Yumthang, and Gurudongmar, while Indian citizens pay no fee. Restricted Area Permits for foreigners are free at the Rangpo check post. Sherpa labeled the proposed fee hike as a burden on tourism, stating, "We do not accept the exorbitant price hike for permits."
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