Phuentsholing introduces Parking.bt-Bhutan, its first mobile parking app, replacing traditional ticketing systems. Launched on February 21, it has registered 1,178 users and generates steady revenue. March revenues remained stable despite the temporary closure of the Zangtokpelri parking area, which was originally the town’s most profitable zone with 43 spots, due to ongoing development projects. Nu 57,000 was collected on average per day, which was comparable to the same month the previous year.
Officials credit this to the removal of unrecorded discounts, real-time fee calculations, and more transparency. Thromde offers 25% discount and Nu 5 for app downloads, promoting early adoption. Public praises QR code convenience, payment ease, and fair charges. Challenges include reimbursement issues and payment enforcement. The digital parking app in Bhutan is facing issues with unpaid dues, with unpaid fees reaching Nu 20,000 per day. Enforcement drives and a grace period are planned. Phuentsholing Thromde intends to take the platform to additional cities in the future. There are also discussions on to include Thimphu Thromde, which is working on its own version.