Background
Bhutan’s urban areas are experiencing rapid growth in population, as well as in vehicle ownership. Between 1990 and 2010, the number of Bhutanese living in urban areas nearly tripled and this growth has continued. The capital city, Thimphu, with 127,864 population is the largest urban center in Bhutan and accounts for 17 percent of Bhutan’s overall population or 41 percent of Bhutan’s total urban population.
ADB PROJECT:
Unprecedented urban growth coupled with inadequate urban infrastructure has resulted in a shortfall of basic urban services for Bhutan s urban residents. Infrastructure requirements across urban centers vary, but access to water, sanitation, solid waste management, and urban transport are often inadequate.
Thimphu City, the capital city of Bhutan, is experiencing increased levels of traffic and congestion due to wider car ownership and usage.
The need for city addressing is critical for efficient functioning of Thimphu, owing to its size and ongoing rapid pace of urban development. Addressing system is evidently crucial for navigational purposes but even the most basic service requires locational information for effective and efficient service delivery. The brunt of a poorly designed system is borne by the Government as well as the citizens, which was alarmingly felt during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
