Within a span of three months this year, from July to September, the number of vehicles increased by nearly 1,000. Going by the recently released Info-Comm and Transport Statistics, as of September this year, there are more than 110,000 vehicles in the country.
As per the statistics, the light vehicles category saw the highest increase taking the total to more than 71,000. This as compared to the first quarter of this year, is an increase of nearly 1,400 vehicles.
The heavy vehicle too saw an increase touching nearly 11,800 from about 11,600 in the first quarter. Similarly, in three months, the number of two-wheelers increased by more than 100 and the number of taxis also rose to more than 100.
Thimphu saw the highest number of vehicles registered at around 58,400 followed by Phuentshogling with about 37,100.
Consequently, as per 2020 provisional Bhutan Trade Statistics, from January to June, more than Nu 900 M worth of petrol and diesel was imported.
Meanwhile, as per the Info-Comm and Transport Statistics, there were about 75 motor vehicle accidents from July to September this year. It is a decrease from about 180 accidents from January to March. Most of the accidents were due to drink driving and speeding.
Sonam Pem
