Parking a car in Thimphu has become an expensive affair. From Nu 15 along the Norzin Lam and Nu 10 in other areas, the parking charges increased to Nu 20 per 30 minutes in all the areas in the city starting from today. And as per the concession agreement between Thimphu Thromde and KCR Pvt Limited, the parking fee tariff will be revised annually starting next year upon approval from the finance ministry.
Until yesterday in Thimphu, the parking fee along the Norzin Lam was Nu 15 per 30 minutes. Other areas were charged with Nu 10 for the same time period. However, the finance ministry on Monday approved a hike in the parking charges to Nu 20 per 30 minutes in all Thimphu city’s core area.
It was the understanding made between Thimphu Thromde and KCR Pvt Limited that upon completion of multi-level car parking, the parking fees will also increase. However, it increased the same for all. There are only two parking areas identified as off-street parking that will charge Nu 15 for half an hour. The two off-street parkings are opposite the milk booth in Chubachhu and behind the Pedling Hotel along Dondrub Lam above the main traffic.
According to the KCR Pvt Limited, the uniform parking fees for on-street parking will help in addressing issues of charging extra fees in different areas.
“Before different areas had different charges such as Nu 15 for Norzin lam and Nu 10 for others. Although we have many supervisors to monitor the rate, in the areas where they couldn’t reach, parking fee collectors have charged extra fees, people complained about it. We had to go to the police and sometimes to the Office of Consumer Protection. That is why if we make uniform fees like Nu 20 for all the areas, there are least chances of such incidences,” said Jamyang Tenzin, the General Manager of KCR Pvt Limited.
However, private motorists and taxi drivers say that the existing parking fee is already expensive.
“It is very inconvenient. It’s like charging for vegetables. I don’t know why this tax for parking. People like us, we earn our living from this. It’s already not easy and when the parking fee is increased, it is going to be more difficult. There are thousands of taxis, we don’t get parking and even if we get one, we don’t get customers. Sometimes we just park and leave without getting any customers. We wait for hours,” said Dawa Gyeltshen, a taxi driver in Thimphu.
KCR Pvt Limited will also start using parking ticket machine to minimise parking fee collectors charging exorbitant parking fees.
“In this, there will be no problem of charging extra fees. The receipt with the exact time will be shown. This will be implemented sooner. Every time a car enter and exit, the machine will give out the ticket. With the machine, we will give them fewer parking spaces to look after and we will be able to employ more people,” the General Manager of the KCR Pvt Limited added.
However, the multi-level car parking’s fee will still remain Nu 10 per 30 minutes. This as per the company is to encourage people to use the multi-level car parking which to this day remain empty most of the time.
Samten Dolkar
