As construction gathers pace in Gelephu Mindfulness City, thousands of workers will be needed to build its major projects. GMCA estimates the workforce could reach 7,000 to 10,000 workers during peak construction. Now, a 1,000-bed workers’ dormitory is being developed to accommodate part of that workforce.
Located just below the planned 256-unit housing project, work is currently underway on a sample of the dormitory to demonstrate how the facility will be developed.
The project comes as construction activity in GMC is expected to increase significantly, with major airport, road, bridge and spiritual projects moving ahead.
GMCA estimates that between 7,000 and 10,000 workers could be needed during peak construction. The new dormitory will accommodate part of that workforce and is planned across the three-acre site.
It will be built in two phases of 500 beds each. The first phase is targeted for mid-2027, with the full 1,000-bed capacity expected by early 2028.
Governor Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering says the project will set a clear standard for worker accommodation in Gelephu and demonstrate how GMCA and the private sector can work together to deliver public goals.
The dormitory will rise to a maximum of four storeys, with GMCA saying the design balances cost efficiency and fire safety. The project will follow a Design–Build–Finance–Operate–Transfer model. The private partner will finance, build and operate the facility, while GMCA will provide the land and infrastructure and regulate its performance.
Once operational, the facility will be monitored against these standards and benchmarked against international best practices for worker housing.
With GMC expected to require thousands of workers as construction expands, the new dormitory, alongside the planned 256-unit housing project, is expected to help ease the growing accommodation pressure in Gelephu and provide safer, more organised housing for the people building the city.
Passang Dorji/Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
