In Thimphu, telling someone where you live can sometimes sound like a list of landmarks: near a school, behind a restaurant, or next to a particular shop. Often, these landmarks become the quickest way to find a location. But as the city grows, can landmarks alone provide a reliable address? Are you aware of which street, locality or building number you live in? Because knowing a simple building number and locality name could make that journey much easier.
You order food with just a few taps. But once the order is placed, can the delivery rider find your door just as easily?
For the customer, it starts with a few taps.
An order is placed, and Ashish, a rider at ZheyGo, checks the address. He is on his way to pick up the order from a doughnut shop.
The order is picked up. But finding the customer’s exact door is not always easy.
For Ashish, the location may be well known. But without knowing the building number, he has to look around not knowing which door to knock on.
And sometimes, there is only one option. To make a call and ask.
And then he takes another turn and follows the directions to deliver the order.
He said, “Some customers do not know how to give directions, so they share their live local destination. Finding the exact location can still be a challenge. Sometimes, the map takes us through different routes. This delays service delivery, as we have to spend additional time identifying the exact location.”
He said that the struggle has been almost a daily routine.
“Some customers give us their building number, and that really helps. Knowing the landmarks, along with the building number, makes it much easier to locate them. But I don’t think many people know their building numbers. So far, we have mostly relied on landmarks, which can also be difficult to locate sometimes. We often have to ask about the colour of the building or the names of nearby shops to find the exact location,” he added.
But this is not only about food deliveries.
Whether it is an ambulance, the fire services, a taxi, or a delivery service, knowing the building number, street name, and locality name can help pinpoint an exact location.
And when these details are entered correctly, they can also help locate the property through digital maps such as Google Maps.
According to Thimphu Thromde, the City Addressing System is intended to support emergency response, planning and other municipal services.
But for the system to work, people need to know their own address.
While Thimphu Thromde says displaying building numbers is not mandatory, it recommends that every building owner know their assigned number and share it with tenants if the building is rented.
So, the next time someone asks, “Where do you live?” Maybe the answer should be more than a landmark.
Your street. Your locality. Your building number.
In a growing city, knowing where you are is just as important as knowing how to get there.
And a clear address could mean fewer wrong turns, fewer phone calls, and a much easier way to find the right door.
Sangay Chozom
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
