October 10: The Norzin lam that cuts through the middle of the Thimphu town will receive a major face-lift.

Works are already underway. The first phase from the Chubachu bridge to the Taj Tashi hotel will be completed by the end of this year.

The existing road will be used as the pedestrian lane and the new road which is under construction below the existing road will be used for the vehicles.

Kezang Deki, an engineer with the Urban Planning and Division of the City Corporation says this will ease traffic congestion. She said it will also bring down pedestrian accident cases.

According to the Thimphu structure plan, the road from Taj Tashi hotel straight to the Bhutan Oil Distributors will be partially turned into a pedestrian lane.

The other half will be used as service lane. This means the road will be used by staff of the financial institutions located along the road.

According to the plan, vehicles will also not be allowed to park along the norzin lam.

Some shopkeepers expressed concern that the change may affect their business.

The project costing more than Nu. 3.5 million is expected to be complete by 2027.