The Bhutanese Leading the way.
During the launch of Nu 15 billion Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), the Prime Minister (PM) Dasho Tshering Tobgay announced that the moratorium on housing and construction loans will be lifted by 1 July 2024 and the moratorium on import of vehicles by 18 August 2024.
The Prime Minister shared that the government is evaluating the demand and capacity for vehicles in Thimphu Thromde. He shared, “Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) did a study on the capacity of how much can Thimphu thromde hold vehicle capacity. The study aims to understand and mitigate traffic jams to ensure smooth traffic flow and avoid complications during emergencies. Although there are no plans to prevent Thimphu residents from buying vehicles, extensive research is needed before lifting the vehicle moratorium to address potential traffic issues.”
The Prime Minister revealed that the government is assessing the demand and capacity for vehicles in Thimphu Thromde.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) conducted a study to determine how many vehicles Thimphu Thromde can accommodate. Lyonchhen shared that this evaluation is crucial because once the vehicle moratorium is lifted, a surge in vehicle purchases could lead to severe traffic congestion and associated problems, which would be costly and inconvenient for residents. While other regions may experience fewer issues, Thimphu Thromde is expected to face significant challenges.
MoIT, the Royal Bhutan Police Traffic Division, and Thimphu Thromde are collaborating to find ways to manage traffic congestion in the area. The government has been studying on this matter and will do further research on this according to the PM.
According to the National Statistical Bureau (NSB), there are currently 166,000 registered vehicles in the country, with Thimphu accounting for approximately 69,914 of them.
