In Gelephu, the race for passengers is giving way to a queue. Taxi drivers are now lining up in an organised system, waiting their turn to serve customers. The initiative is aimed at ending the rush and competition among drivers while making taxi services easier and fairer for everyone.
For most people, there is nothing unusual about a busy day in Gelephu. But at the taxi parking area, something has changed. Instead of drivers competing to get passengers, taxis are now standing in an orderly queue, waiting for their turn.
Tshering Dorji, a taxi driver, said that the initiative will ease overcrowding and ensure passengers are fairly shared among drivers.
“Earlier, drivers who were more confident or outspoken could easily attract most of the passengers, while those who were less assertive often struggled to get passengers. So, we wanted to create a system where everyone gets a fair opportunity.”
Under the new arrangement, taxis are divided into two queues. One is for local services, while the other i
s for passengers travelling to destinations within Sarpang.
And for taxi drivers, the change comes as Gelephu itself is entering a new phase of development with the emergence of the Gelephu Mindfulness City.
Yograj Darjay, also a taxi driver, said, “With GMC coming up, I feel it is high time that we practise such a system, which is practical and advanced. We often see His Majesty The King and other important international guests coming here in GMC, and this will be a good example for everyone.”
Taxi driver Kado said, “Earlier, it used to be disorganised, with taxi drivers running after passengers. It was also like harassment for some customers. There were also situations where taxi drivers tried to lure customers, especially international guests and visitors from outside. That is why we all agreed to adopt this approach.”
The queue system was jointly discussed and agreed upon by the taxi community, the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority, and the Royal Bhutan Police in Gelephu.
Officials say the new arrangement is currently being implemented on a trial basis.
With around 500 taxi operators and the number growing, drivers hope this queue system will bring greater order and fairness to taxi services as Gelephu grows with GMC.
Karma Wangdi/ Passang Dorji, Gelephu
