Second Meeting of the Regional Network of Legal & Technical Experts on Transport Facilitation

Incheon, Republic of Korea.25 -26 March 2015

Garja Man RaiChief Engineer,

Department of RoadsMinistry of Works & Human Settlement

Royal Government of Bhutan

Karma TenzinExecutive Engineer

Department of RoadsMinistry of Works & Human Settlement

Royal Government of Bhutan

COUNTRY LOCATION

BHUTAN AT A GLANCE(2013)

Area (sq.km) - 38,394- Dzongkhags /Districts - 20- Geogs (blocks) - 205- Capital - Thimphu- Population (2014) - 8,20,679 - Currency - Ngultrum- National Language - Dzongkha

ROAD TRANSPORT VISION 2020 MILESTONES

Bring 75% of rural population within half-day’s walk from nearest road

Upgrade current national trunk roads to carry30-ton capacity trucks

Complete second transnational highway (Southern E-W Highway)

Construct “dry ports” at Phuentsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrupjongkhar

Introduce domestic air services Improve external air links with full ILS capacity

HIGHWAY NETWORK

ROAD NETWORK IN KM

Expressway - 6 Primary National Highway - 1769

Secondary National Highway - 521 Dzongkhag Road - 1051 Thromde (Urban) Road - 327 Farm Road - 4381 Access road - 1436

---------------------------Total: 9491 -----------------------------

TRANSPORT LOGISTICS - INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY

International Airport (Paro) - 1 No. Domestic Airports - 3 Nos.

(Bumthang, Yonphula, Gelephu) Nearest international seaport is Kolkata in

India (750 km by road from Phuentsholing) Nearest railway stations from Bhutan:

-Rangia, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar (Assam, India)-Hashimara, Alipurduar, New Jalpaiguri (W.Bengal, India)

BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Point in BHUTAN Point in INDIAPhuentsholing JaigaonSamtse ChamurchiGelephu DadghariSamdrupjongkhar DarrangaNganglam PathsalaGomtu (Pugli) Birpara

AH48 Thimphu-Phuentsholing in Bhutan

AH48 &AH2 (for connectivity with India,Nepal & Bangladesh)

Phuentsholing-Jaigoan-Hashimara-Phulbari-Panitanki-Kakarvita for Bhutan, India & Nepal

Phuentsholing-Jaigoan-Hashimara-Changrabandha-Burimari-Banglabandha for Bhutan, India & Bangladesh

INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY

Narcotics and psychotropic drugs and substances;

Pornography and pornographic materials;

Second hand or used vehicles other than those imported by privileged personnel of Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations under conditions specified under the Customs Act and such other categories of persons as may be specified by the Royal Government from time to time

Any other goods specifically prohibited by law or regulation, or international conventions and treaties to which Bhutan is a signatory

The import into Bhutan of goods of the following nature are prohibited:

Vehicle Registration Types

Heavy Vehicle

Medium Vehicle

Light Vehicle

Two Wheeler

Vehicle Registration Requirement

Original Invoice ID Card copy (the applicant should be 18 years and above) Original customs clearance (if purchased from authorized dealer

outside Bhutan ) Import license /quota (in case of purchase from third country ) Tax clearance receipt in original Green Tax receipt in original Emission certificate –Euro 03/Euro 04 compliant Vehicle should be brought for physical inspection Only new vehicles can be registered. Second Hand/used

vehicles registered in other country cannot be registered in Bhutan.

Exemption from requirement for a Bhutan driving license

The Authority may exempt a person from obtaining a driving license for a period of three months if the person: has a valid international driving license; holds a diplomatic passport and a valid driving license issued in

another country; is a foreigner who resides in Bhutan for a period not exceeding

three months and in possession of a valid driving license issued in the country of residence; and.

is a member of the armed forces and holds a valid driving license issued by the respective Motor Transport Officers for driving military and police vehicles;

Vehicle Insurance

All Vehicles registered in Bhutan should have an insurance:Type of insurance: Third Party Liability Motor Insurance is an insurance policy

which covers the liability under the Road Safety and Transport Act, which are broadly: a) injury to a third party and b) damage to property belonging to third party. It also covers drivers & passengers against risk of accidental death and injuries.

Comprehensive Insurance is also a motor insurance in addition to the Third party Liability Insurance, which covers any types of damage or loss to the vehicle itself. This Policy can also be extended to cover extra fittings, with payment of extra premium. No Claim Discount for an accident free insurance period is available under this, which is applicable to the own damage premium only.

TASHI DELEK&

THANK YOU