📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ursang
Automobile
Sikkim proposes ban on two‑wheelers in RAP and PAP zones under new permit rules
✍️ India Today NE
🗓 20 Aug 2026, 12:36 AM
👁 5
The Sikkim government is considering a permit framework that could prohibit two‑wheelers from entering Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Protected Area Permit (PAP) zones.
Sikkim's state administration is reviewing a set of permit norms that would restrict two‑wheelers from traveling within areas designated under the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Protected Area Permit (PAP) schemes. The proposal, outlined in a recent draft, aims to tighten control over motorised traffic in ecologically sensitive and strategically important zones.
Under the draft, owners of motorcycles and scooters would need to obtain a special permit to enter RAP or PAP regions, and the default position would be a prohibition unless such clearance is granted. Authorities say the move is intended to reduce congestion, protect fragile mountain ecosystems, and enhance security in border‑adjacent districts.
The proposal is currently under consultation with local stakeholders, including transport unions and tourism operators. If approved, the new rules could come into effect later this year, subject to notification in the state gazette.
Transport officials have indicated that enforcement would be carried out by the state police and the Department of Tourism, with penalties for non‑compliance ranging from fines to vehicle seizure. The government has not yet disclosed the exact number of permits that may be issued or the criteria for eligibility.
Public reaction remains mixed, with some residents welcoming the environmental benefits, while others warn of potential inconvenience for daily commuters and tourists who rely on two‑wheelers for short‑distance travel.
Under the draft, owners of motorcycles and scooters would need to obtain a special permit to enter RAP or PAP regions, and the default position would be a prohibition unless such clearance is granted. Authorities say the move is intended to reduce congestion, protect fragile mountain ecosystems, and enhance security in border‑adjacent districts.
The proposal is currently under consultation with local stakeholders, including transport unions and tourism operators. If approved, the new rules could come into effect later this year, subject to notification in the state gazette.
Transport officials have indicated that enforcement would be carried out by the state police and the Department of Tourism, with penalties for non‑compliance ranging from fines to vehicle seizure. The government has not yet disclosed the exact number of permits that may be issued or the criteria for eligibility.
Public reaction remains mixed, with some residents welcoming the environmental benefits, while others warn of potential inconvenience for daily commuters and tourists who rely on two‑wheelers for short‑distance travel.