In Paro, manual parking fee collection and cash payments are being replaced by a digital system. Just over a month since the rollout of the new scan-based parking system, parking fee collection and payment have become more convenient. However, many residents are still adjusting as the system takes root.
The scan-based parking system digitally tracks how long vehicles are parked and calculates fees accordingly.
In Paro, drivers are charged Nu 10.5 for every 30 minutes. Once a vehicle is logged in, the fee continues to accumulate until it is checked out, either by a parking collector or by the driver.
For those who wish to self-checkout, they must sign up for the “Nge Parking” app. So far, around 125 users have registered. The app allows users to check available parking spaces, log in and out, and make digital payments without waiting for a collector.
The system is designed to reduce gaps in manual tracking. With digital records and CCTV cameras installed in parking areas, authorities say there is less room for vehicles to leave without paying or parking duration disputes.
The initiative, approved by the Paro Thromde, is operated by Good Enterprise, a private company that shares around 70 per cent of its collections with the municipal authority.
“If your car is not checked out in the app, the amount keeps adding up until you pay the next time. When people call, and the reasons are genuine, we do adjust it and sometimes even waive the extra fees. I do not know if it is because this is new and people are not yet fully aware, but some drivers leave without completing the checkout process,” said Sanju, the owner of the Good Enterprise.
Some residents welcome the digital system, saying it improves transparency, keeps clearer records, and reduces disputes over parking fees. Others find the change challenging, particularly the checkout requirement and unclear charges.
Taxi Driver Nanda Lal Luitel said, “Before, there was always a chance of parking fee collectors misrepresenting parking durations to increase the fee. Now, with the app, vehicle numbers and parking durations are transparently recorded and displayed. This has significantly improved the parking fee payment system.”
“With the new system, we receive a card that is placed on our vehicles when we park. Sometimes we cannot get hold of the fee collectors, especially when we are in a hurry. When we return and park again, we are told that we have unpaid dues, and the amounts have increased. Previously, we could just pay on the spot, and the dues did not pile up. It was less of a hassle,” said Lhakpa Tshering, a resident of Paro.
The company has introduced QR codes on parking cards at all 17 parking sites to support self-service parking. It has also introduced a digital wallet to allow users to pay parking fees independently.
Sanju said, “Every location we operate in has a QR code. In the future, we are hoping everyone adopts self-parking and self-checkout. We even have a wallet facility that people can use to pay parking fees. Eventually, there will be no need for physical cash transactions.”
The company plans to streamline the system further with Automatic Number Plate Recognition. The technology will allow vehicles to be automatically tracked and charged based on parking duration, with cameras handling the checkout process.
There are also plans to integrate the system with the Royal Monetary Authority to simplify wallet top-ups and online payments. The company is also considering dedicated payment counters
Karma Samten Wangda, Paro
