Frustrating days are over for the residents of Thimphu, especially while renewing and processing vehicle documents. The Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) opened a branch office at Babesa recently. Except for driving tests, the new office will provide all the services, similar to the head office at Lungtenzampa.
Located below the Expressway, near the State Trading Corporation of Bhutan Limited (STCBL) Head Office, is the RSTA’s new service centre in Thimphu.
The centre was established after the head office experienced crowds of service seekers. Every day, hundreds of people queue outside the office to avail themselves of various services, but most have to return home without the job done. A day would already be wasted.
The office caters to just a little over 100 people in a day, but some 200 people on the average crowd the office every day.
However, these inconveniences are expected to be resolved by the new office. According to the RSTA’s Chief Transport Officer, Sithar Dorji, the new office is the authority’s effort to deliver public service efficiently.
“People will have to come here personally to get their vehicles inspected for roadworthiness. Other services can be availed online,” he said.
As per the officer, of about 48,000 vehicles in Thimphu, the new service centre can cater to 30 per cent of it and will particularly benefit the residents of South Thimphu.
Similarly, with the restriction of medium and heavy vehicles’ entry to the core town area during working hours, he added that this will especially benefit the owners of such vehicles.
Meanwhile, if this becomes successful, the RSTA will set up similar centres in other parts of the capital.
Pema Seldon Tshering
Edited by Chayku