BBSCL

Bhutan’s electric vehicle taxi initiative has spiralled into confusion, with millions in subsidies unaccounted for and dozens of EV taxis still undelivered. Now, the Prime Minister has stepped in, ordering the Cabinet Secretariat to launch an urgent investigation into the matter. The ambitious “Sustainable Low Emission Urban Transport Systems” project targeted to replace 300 fuelled taxis with electric vehicles by...

Discussions are underway to amend the existing tobacco control laws in response to the growing use of e-cigarettes among Bhutanese youth. Health Secretary Pemba Wangchuk said that while traditional tobacco products and nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are taxed at 100 per cent, nicotine-free e-cigarettes are only taxed for the device. This highlights regulatory gaps for non-nicotine e-cigarettes, particularly those with flavored variants....

Residents of Dechencholing in Thimphu are still grappling with the aftermath of last year’s flood. The road remains unrepaired, forcing people to live with choking dust and poor road conditions. Despite the ongoing struggles, authorities have yet to provide any clear answers on when repairs will begin. 36-year-old Ambhika Devi Darjee runs a restaurant beside the road that has remained...

The Thimphu Thromde has submitted a budget proposal to the finance ministry for an automated parking fee collection system in the capital. The infrastructure and transport minister disclosed this during yesterday's Meet the Press session. He was responding to a media query on whether the government plans to introduce a system similar to the one recently implemented in Phuentshogling. At...