September 08: With the number of building constructions increasing, Thimphu residents are expressing concern about pedestrian safety.

Most of the buildings are constructed by the side of the road. And with limited space, construction materials like sand and gravel are piled on the sidewalk.

School authorities are also complaining about the noise. The Changbangdu Primary School is one of the many schools facing the problem. Like many other schools in the capital, it is located near the road with any buildings being constructed nearby.

The schools’ principal Dolma said the noise from the construction is disturbing the class. Sometimes teachers have to compete not only with the noise of the construction but also trucks struggling up the road with heavy construction material.

Apart from the noise, the school is also facing other problems from the construction boom. With limited space, building owners pile the construction material on the sidewalk. Sometimes they spill on the road making the already narrow road narrower.

This poses serious problem for school children walking to school and back home from school.

Construction owners say they are helpless and that they have nowhere to download their construction material. Aum Tashi who is constructing a building outside the Changbangdu School said they are aware of the problem.

The head of the building section of the Thimphu City Corporation, Tshering Yonten agreed that space is a problem. They supervise and monitor to ensure that construction materials are not dumped carelessly.

With no immediate solution at sight, schools, residents and pedestrians have no choice but to bear with the problem.