SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT INDEX THIMPHU, BHUTAN

SANJEEV MEHTA

12th Intergovernmental Regional EST Forum In Asia

Hanoi 28-31 December, 2019

THIMPHU CITYPopulation: 114551 (2018)Active Population: 61057 (2018)Area: 26sq KMDensity: 4406/Sq. KMPopulation growth rate: 13%

Thimphu Traffic Circulatory System

Growth of Vehicles in Thimphu

CAGR of vehicle growth rate - 4.6% (1990-05) to 8.9% (2015-18)

Passenger Vehicle Density (2018): 477 per 1000 persons, 219 per km of

roads.

• 1% rise in GDP contributes to

0.15% rise in vehicles

• About 54,000 people commute daily

• Taxi provide paratransit mode

• Peak hour congestion on the rise

8712 8356

17102

29446

38760

54661

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

Transport Infrastructure in ThimphuSource: Twelfth Five Year Plan (2018-23): Thimphu Thromde, Local Government Plan (Vol III), GNHC 2019

Indicator Status

Running length of roads 270 km

Running Length of Footpaths 47 km

Running Length of Cycle Lane 1km

No of Bus terminals 2

No of Taxi Terminals 2

No of vehicles 54661

• Every Third Person Owns A Car in Thimphu

• 165 Vehicles per km of Road

• Fuel consumption: 470 liters/Vehicle/year

• BRT planned covering 17 Km

SUTI for Thimphu, BhutanS No. Indicators B2

Normalisation

1 Extent to which transport plans cover public transport, intermodal facilities and

infrastructure for active modes 68.75

2 Modal share of active and public transport in commuting 40.08

3 Convenient access to public transport service 40.96

4 Public transport quality and reliability 51.57

5 Traffic fatalities per 100.000 inhabitants 38.89

6 Affordability – travel costs as share of income 73.02

7 Operational costs of the public transport system 44.09

8 Investment in public transportation systems 60.26

9 Air quality (pm10) 78.36

10 Greenhouse gas emissions from transport 79.80

Overall Index 55.44

68.75

40.08

40.96

51.57

38.89

73.02

44.09

60.26

78.36

79.80

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

90.00

100.00

1. Extent to which transportplans cover public transport,

intermodal facilities and…

2. Modal share of active andpublic transport in commuting

3. Convenient access to publictransport service

4. Public transport quality andreliability

5. Traffic fatalities per100.000 inhabitants

6. Affordability – travel costs as part of income

7. Operational costs of thepublic transport system

8. Investment in publictransportation systems

9. Air quality (pm10)

10. Greenhouse gas emissionsfrom transport

Indicator 1

S.No. Mode Features

1 Walking

networks

Improved footpaths linking bus stops to all other improved

pedestrian access points within a radius of 50 meters radius.

Expand length of footpath from 47 km to 67 km, BTN 45 million

allocated during 12th FYP period

2 Intramodal Ridership in city bus from 12% to more than 50% . Construction of

new bus stops, BTN 16 million allocated during 12th FYP.

Improved footpaths linking to Bus stops.

3 Public Transport Infrastructure for Bus Rapid Transport to be developed , allocated

BTN 170 million

Construction of new bus terminal, BTN 207 million allocated during

12th FYP.

Indicator 2: Modal Share

10.5

51.310.2

3.01.3

0.8

23.0

City bus Private car Taxi Institutional car

Two wheeler Institutional buses Walk

Indicator 3: Convenient AccessMajor Bus Stops Population density Frequency Inhabitants

Babesa 2386 12 1874

Simtokha 2529 23 1987

Lungtenphu 1511 23 1187

Changjiji 5381 18 4226

Changzamtog 12318 18 9674

Core city 11370 5 9785

Changangkha 2793 12 2194

Lower Motithang 8900 20 6990

Upper Motithang 9468 20 7436

Zilukha+Kwasangjangsa 2673 20 2099

Hejo Samteling Langjophaka 5490 28 4312

Dzong Precinct 834 120 655

Taba Jongshina 6932 28 5445

Dechencholing 3282 24 2578

Sum 60441

Population 114551

% within 500m buffers 52.8

Indicator 4: Quality and Reliability

78.6

73.3

43.8

80.0

69.2

40.0

58.3

73.3

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

Frequency ofthe service

Punctuality(delay)*

Comfort andcleanliness of

vehicles

Safety ofvehicles

Convenienceof

stops/stations

Availability ofinformation

Personnelcourtesy

Fare level

Indicator 5: Traffic Fatalities

6 10 8 10 136

59

76

99105 104

135

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

No of Deaths

Thimphu Bhutan

Indicator 6: Affordability

Weighted Monthly Cost of Pubic Transportation in Thimphu: 12% of Mean Household Income.

poor quartiles use active mode or city bus

Higher quintiles use more of private vehicles and vehicle per household member rises as climb up income quintiles.

5.3

7.28.1

10.2

19.3

0

5

10

15

20

25

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5

Share of Transport in Total Expenditure (in %)

INDICATOR 7: OPERATIONAL COST OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Operator Market share (in%) Farebox ratio

Bhutan Postal

Corporation Limited

98.8% 56% (Subsidized by the

government)

Lama Transport 0.06% 179%

Bumpa Transport 0.04% 168%

K Wangyal Transport 0.02% 179%

Indicator 8: Planned Investment In Public Transport (in BTN million)

347

00

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Public Investment Private Investment

Indicator 9: Air Quality (PM 10) in Thimphu

Indicator 9: Air Quality (PM 2.5) in Thimphu

Indicator 10: GHG Emission

Annual GHG emission in Thimphu because of motorized

transportation is about 63635 tons.

In 2030, the GHG emission is likely to reach 183,000

tons.

Conclusion

1. Bhutan’s SUTI score is 55.44, (Medium ?)

2. Growth rate of vehicles has outpaced the growth rate of infrastructure

3. Convenience and access to public transport (city bus) is a major challenge

4. High rate of rural urban migration is likely to exacerbate the problem

5. Policy intervention has limited success so far

6. Private participation in public transport is miniscule consequently the

investment burden falls heavily on the public sector

7. Current pattern of city transportation in Thimphu is not sustainable