The construction boom in Gelegphu town since 2011 has solved the housing crunch in the thromde.
In the past, when the construction was not permitted in the town area, newly transferred civil servants and people moving to settle down in Gelegphu from other Dzongkhags had to stay with their relatives and wait for months to find an apartment.
However, all that changed when Gelegphu was categorised as a full-fledged Thromde in 2011 and the construction ban in the town was lifted.
Between 2011 and 2018, 175 private and commercial buildings have been constructed. Currently, 137 constructions are underway. Around 79 new applications have recently been approved for construction.
The Gelegphu Thrompon, Tikaram Kafley, said that house construction was booming in the thromde as many civil servants own land in Gelegphu and start construction houses after retirement.
“Most house owners are civil servants, some are retired and some are retiring from service soon. They are all investing here in Gelephu Thromde by building their own houses or constructing commercial buildings,” he said.
While the increasing number of houses provides residents with more choice, some are beginning to notice an increasing number of vacant houses as well.
A resident Neykor said, “These days most of the houses are lying vacant and it must be due to high rental fees. The lifting of construction ban has lead to an excess of buildings around Gelegphu.”
Karma Wangdi
