Passengers, hoteliers and bus drivers are not happy with a circular issued by the Bumthang Dzongkhag Administration recently. The circular says all passenger buses should be parked only in the designated bus parking area in the town.
Earlier most of the passenger buses plying through Bumthang used to drop passengers near the respective hotels. But now with this circular issued on May 12 this year, it is not allowed.
“It is not a problem for people who are familiar with the town. But for others, it is a problem finding hotels especially the elderly,” said Tashi Tobgay, one of the passengers.
Another passenger, Dorji Phuntsho, said: “For those with enough cash or with relatives living in Bumthang it doesn’t matter. For people like us who do not have much cash and any relatives here, it is a big problem to get hotels during the night.”
One of the passenger bus drivers said it would be a problem for those physically challenged people and sick looking for hotels.
“It has been a long time since we dropped our passenger near different hotels. It is a huge problem especially when our bus gets delayed due to snowfall or mechanical problems. During such situation is the Dzongkhag willing to take responsibility of the passengers?” questioned another driver, Kezang Dorji.
Even hoteliers have been complaining about the new rule of the town. “There is not even single customer in our hotels these days. We do not earn even Nu. 100 in a day. It has been a month now that our rooms have been empty. We cannot pay our house rent. We cannot even close the hotels as we have one-year contract agreement with the house owner,” said Pema Selden, a hotelier.
Some of the hotel owners said they had requested several times to the Dzongkhag to look into their problem but nothing has been done.
However, the circular has benefited some hotels located near the bus parking area.
“For me it is convenient now. Our hotels nearby bus parking are supposed to be for the bus passengers. Even if I cannot accommodate all the passengers we have many hotels nearby. Compared to past now the business is good after the circular,” said Rinzin Om.
Bumthang Dzongda Sangay Thinley said the rule is same in all other Dzongkhags. He justified by saying that if buses are allowed to stop anywhere they want there might be traffic congestion and accidents.
