Sherab Lhamo

A survey by the Thimphu thromde found that the thromde’s two Multi-Level Car Parks (MLCPs) are underutilised with respondents attributing inconvenient locations and accessibility issues as the main reasons.

The two MLCPs can accommodate a total of 570 cars, MLCP in the Hongkong market has space for 350 cars and the one near Lungtenzampa has space for 220 cars. Both the MLCPs have three floors above ground and two basement floors.

A thromde official said that the locations were decided as per pre-feasibility survey done by an International Finance Corporation consultant considering the location to be the most feasible with the current population during 2018.

Out of 662 survey participants, 50 percent found the location of the facility inconvenient, 29 percent said there are other parking spaces available, 17 percent shared that the facility was not user-friendly because of the entry gate, turnings and lighting, making it difficult to use.

Some respondents attributed the fees and cleanliness while some said they were less aware about the space. Participants also shared that the monthly fee was high while the daily fee was reasonable. Some found the Norzin lam, the city’s main thoroughfare,  far from both the facilities.

The survey was made open to the public and posted on thromde’s social media on June 12, to find out why people were not utilising the MLCP.

Despite the drawbacks, awareness of the MLCPs remains high, with 97 percent of the participants knowing about the MLCP and 71 percent of those individuals using the facility. Two hundred of them used the facility as they could not find another parking space, 194 of them used for shopping and others for office, recreation, safety, other reasons, and as it was cheap.

Thromde official said the MLCP parking fee of Nu 20 per hour was cheaper compared with other parking fees that cost Nu 30 and Nu 40  per hour.

Apart from parking space, the MLCP in Lungtenzampa has an extension office of Bhutan National Bank and Bhutan Olympic Committee cricket office. An education consultancy has rented a space at the MLCP in the Hongkong market.

The thromde has submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister’s office on the way forward.