Survey shows Thimphu multi-storey car parks are inconvenient and difficult to access

Sherab Lhamo

A survey of parking lots in Thimphu has found that the two multi-level car parks (MLCPs) at the parking garage are underutilized, with respondents citing inconvenient location and lack of accessibility as the main reasons.

The two parking lots can accommodate a total of 570 vehicles, of which the Hong Kong Market parking lot can accommodate 350 vehicles and the parking lot near Lungtenzampa can accommodate 220 vehicles. Both parking lots have three floors above ground and two floors underground.

The locations were decided based on a pre-feasibility study done by an International Finance Corporation consultant, which found the site to be the most feasible for the existing population in 2018, a Trende official said.

Of the 662 survey participants, 50% felt the facility’s location was inconvenient, 29% said there were other parking spaces available, and 17% felt the facility was inconvenient to use due to issues with the entrance gate, turns and lighting.

Some respondents blamed the cost and cleanliness, while others said they did not know much about the space. Participants also said the monthly fee was high, while the daily fee was reasonable. Some found Norzin Lam, the city’s main thoroughfare, It is a long way from both facilities.

The survey, which is open to the public and posted on thromde’s social media on June 12, aims to understand the reasons why people do not use MLCP.

Despite the drawbacks, awareness of MLCP was high, with 97% of participants knowing about MLCP and 71% using the facility. Of these, 200 used the facility because they could not find other parking spaces, 194 for shopping, and the rest for office, entertainment, security, other reasons, and because it was cheap.

Thromde officials said that the parking fee at MLCP is Nu 20 per hour, which is cheaper than other parking fees of Nu 30 and Nu 40. per hour.

Besides parking spaces, the MLCP in Lungtenzampa also houses a branch of the National Bank of Bhutan and the Bhutan Olympic Committee Cricket office. An education consultancy firm has rented a space at MLCP in the Hong Kong market.

The council has submitted a proposal to the prime minister’s office on the next steps.