October 17: The new workshop at Olarangchu is not getting good response from motorists. Motorists say automobile workshops are charging high rates for their service at the new site. Workshop owners cite the high rent to justify their new rates.

The workshop site at Olangrangchu is abuzz with the noise of mending and repairing vehicles but motorists are not happy with the service charges.

Most customers complain the rates are high at the new site. For example it cost only about Nu. 120 for washing a car at the previous workshop site. It costs Nu. 150 now.

BBS caught up with Gem Tshering, a taxi driver who came to repair his taxi. He said the rates have gone up.

Workshop owners also agree that they have increased the rates. They say the high rent at the new site has left them with no choice but to increase the service charges.

Ugyen Dorji, the proprietor of Yangki Automobiles paid about Nu. 27,000 per month as rent at the old site. He is now paying about Nu. 120,000 as rent, five times more.

Although he has not revised the rates as of yet, he told BBS that his workshop will soon be increasing the rates in order to cope with the higher rental charge. He is also the President of the Automobile Service Association.

The workshops were shifted to the new site earlier this month.