People are all smiles as the erstwhile Centenary Farmer’s Market, renamed the Kaja Throm in Thimphu was unveiled with a brand new look. The prime minister inaugurated the facility today. The renovation work, according to the project officials, is a fusion of tradition with innovation, creating a hub for culture, commerce, and community.
With beautiful stalls, clean and organised alleys and well-lit spaces, the new Kaja Throm in the heart of the capital city welcomes vendors and buyers to what is one of the finest public infrastructures in the country.
All these are the fruit of the labour of more than 35 skilled workers assisted by 215 DeSuups who worked for the entire duration of the project.
The renovation project was initiated in August 2022 by the Department of Human Settlement with the support of the Department of Infrastructure Development.
The prime minister at the inaugural of the market highlighted its significance as a gift from His Majesty The King to the people.
“Firstly, this is a huge gift for the vegetable vendors here. Now, they no longer have to work under the sun, dust, and mud. They will now have the opportunity to earn money in this very clean and peaceful place. It is also a gift to the farmers to sell their agricultural produce and dairy products.”
The vendors in the previous Kaja Throm market area have now been moved to the new facility. As the market opened its doors to the public with better facilities, people expressed their gratitude and enthusiasm for the newly renovated market.
“We are very grateful to His Majesty The King because we have now been moved to this brand new vegetable market here. Here, all the facilities such as stalls and washrooms are clean,” said Nim Gyelmo, a vendor at Kaja Throm.
“They have built very good facilities here. If we cannot make a living out of it, I think it’s our failure because we are provided with this wonderful facility,” said Pem Tshering, another vendor.
There are 442 stalls, 27 dry stores, two cold storage facilities, 12 food stalls run by the DeSuung Skilling Programme and a stall for dairy products. The market is also equipped with six disable-friendly restroom areas, separate areas for loading and unloading dock and waste management.
“For the vendors, we have facilities like cold storage to store their vegetables, and waste management facilities. Moreover, there are also washrooms and designated places to keep their babies,” said Tashi Penjor, director at Department of Human Settlement, MoIT.
The concept design was prepared by a group of around seven private architects for free. The government spent Nu 118 M for the project.
The renovation of the Kaja Throm is in line with the Thimphu Structure Plan’s vision of developing the City Core as a great place to live, with equitable access to good quality affordable homes, community facilities and education.
Within the City Core, the Kaja Throm is identified as the Market Quarter, which will be integrated with the surrounding amenities such as the stadium, the riverside park system and the proposed Cultural and Financial Quarters.
Sangay Chozom
Edited by Kipchu
