October 06: For 12 hours, the commercial centre of the capital city was without the usual vehicular traffic as Norzin and Chang remained closed to traffic as the Road Safety and Transport Authority conducted a dry run of public transport services in the capital for the Coronation and Centenary celebrations.

The usually bustling streets of Norzin and Chang Lam were without the motor vehicle traffic. Instead one could see a stream of human traffic dominating the scene.

The centre of the city including traffic on Norzin and Chang Lam remained closed to traffic for a dry run for the public transport services in preparation for the coronation and centenary celebrations.

The traffic closure began from six in the morning and carried on till six in the evening. Traffic police at different locations monitored and directed traffic to ensure the smooth implementation of the dry run.

To facilitate movement, shuttle buses ran along periphery routes like the Doebum Lam, Dechen Lam and the Expressway. Owners had to park their vehicles at designated areas such as the new truck parking areas near the fly over bridge, the Motithang sschool parking area and the Changjiji football ground.

Shuttle buses ferried passengers from areas such as the new truck parking area, the Motithang and Druk School parking space to the Zilukha school ground. While the public transport service in the capital will be free during the celebrations, users were charged nominal fares yesterday.

While the residents of the city carried on business and leisure minus their cars in the city center, many city dwellers and those from the neighboring areas gave the streets and the pavements a crowded and festive flavor as they returned from the Tashichhodzong after witnessing the Thimphu Domche.

Speaking to BBS, they said the closure of traffic and the shuttle bus services was a pleasant change and wished for a smooth functioning of public transport services in the capital during the Coronation and Centenary celebrations.