August 23: The preparations for Coronation and Centenary Celebrations are almost completed. This was revealed in the recent progress report maintained by the National Steering Committee for the Coronation and Centenary Celebrations.

Nine sub-committees are involved in the preparations for the Coronation and Centenary Celebrations. Five ministries and the Zhung Dratshang are also associated with these sub-committees.

Under the sub-committee, the Center for Bhutan studies will publish books dedicated to the monarchy. The Dzongkha Development Commission will document books on Coronation and Centenary Celebrations in both Dzongkha and English. The Ministry of Education will organize a literary competition among the youth on the theme “Bhutan’s Unique Journey towards Democracy.” Print media like Kuensel and Bhutan Times will produce pictorial books of the coronation of the 5th Druk Gyalpo and publish books on Bhutan’s transition to a democracy tracing events from the 1st king to the present.

The sub-committees have reviewed 33 publications and their release is in the pipeline.

The Bhutan Broadcasting Service is producing five documentary programmes on the successive monarchs. The coronation will be broadcast live on the BBS.

Bhutan Times, Bhutan Observer and Kuensel printed centenary logos, produced supplements on Coronation of our Kings and about Monarchy.

The Motion Picture Association of Bhutan will screen Bhutanese films during Coronation celebration. They will also organize International Buddhist film shows in public spaces during the celebrations.

Bhutan Post Corporation has launched various stamps dedicated to the Monarchy. Numerous stamp exhibitions will also be held. Bhutanese stamps from the inception till date will be exhibited. About 12 coaster buses are being purchased to improve the public transportation system in Thimphu.

The Department of Civil Aviation has completed all repair works related to airport. Additional aircrafts will be accommodated.

The Department of Information and Technology has designed the website for Coronation and Centenary Celebration and was launched coinciding with the birth anniversary of the fifth Druk Gyalpo.

Bhutan Telecom has set up and extended cellular stations and is preparing several mobile stations at locations of the celebrations.

Druk Air will review flight schedule during the celebrations. Logos of the Coronation and Centenary will be used on the aircraft body, magazines, headrest and dividers.

The Road Safety and Transport Authority has seen a progress sign in their works for improving mass transport system.

RBP will ensure the closure of Norzin lam to traffic during the celebration. Public parking areas have been identified for the celebrations.

Department of Information and Media and protocol sub-committee will jointly establish media centres in Paro and Thimphu.

Hotels have been identified and circulation of pamphlets to foreign media personnel is finalized.

Coming to entertainment sub-committee, there will be three days of cultural items and games and sports at Changlimithang during the celebrations. Film festival and cultural programmes will be organized at public spaces in the capital.

Members of the Royal Academy of Performing Arts and private entertainment group have been trained to further train the students and participants. People from all cross the country will take part in the celebrations. Mask dancers have been trained by the central monastic body. Performers from abroad are invited to take part in the celebrations.

There will be classic car adventure in December. The rally will start from Europe pass by Pakistan, India and Thimphu.

Meanwhile the hospitality sub-committee has trained many employees of tourism and hotel industry in rendering hospitality services.

The Department of Tourism has made proposal for new tourist tariff in place of separate surcharge for the tourists. Classification and up graduation of hotels and motels have been looked into. An international consultant is working on guidelines for classification and standardization of accommodation facilities in the country.

The protocol sub-committee has prepared a list of guests that will pay visit during the celebrations. Protocol office and facilitation desk at Paro airport are on the cards ahead of the celebrations. Recruitment and trainings of protocol staff have been completed.

Several vehicles for VIP guests have been purchased from the regular budget of the ministry of foreign affairs. Specific rooms for the VIPs will be located after the approved guest list. Items like umbrellas and stickers with logos and medical services are well prepared.

The sub-committee has informed the missions and embassies in foreign countries to prepare for the celebrations.

On security front, the security sub-committee has purchased equipment for the new band companies and uniforms for RBG, RBA and RBP are also ready.

The committee’s progress work also includes modification of parade inspection jeep, samples of Coronation and Centenary Celebration medals for the armed forces and procurement of pilot vehicles.

The committee has purchased security and communication equipment and has done survey on all vulnerable areas of Thimphu-Paro and Thimphu-Punakha highways.

Investigation of all vulnerable points within Paro international airport has already being carried out and security deployment will be done three days ahead of the celebrations.

The volunteer sub-committee compiled a list of volunteers involved during the Centenary Celebrations and has trained them accordingly. The sub-committee has identified caps and badges for the volunteers to use during the celebrations and clean up campaigns. Volunteers were also allotted to respective sub-committees. Construction of help centers in the capital and other few dzongkhags have been completed.

Bhutan telecom will arrange wireless telephone systems in all the centres to render free emergency help line during the celebrations.

Bhutan Power Corporation will ensure all the wirings and electricity connections in all the help centers.

Thimphu City Corporation will provide water supply in help centers of Thimphu and Phuentsholing. They will also ensure cleanliness and proper sewerage systems of the help centers in the capital.

Other dzongkhags will ensure water supply and medical officers in the dzonhkahgs will take care of the functions of the help centers (kiosk) in their locations.

The finance sub-committee’s responsibilities include reviewing and compiling budgets for various programs related to the Coronation and Centenary Celebrations. The sub-committee has franchised the logo for the celebrations to control its usage and also to generate revenues for the events. Tender was invited from eligible bidders for use of the Coronation logo on the items specified by the finance sub-committee.

Commemorative coins, currencies and medals have been approved and the Royal monetary authority has minted the gold and silver commemorative coins. Special lottery and raffle has also been initiated by the sub-committee dedicated to the Coronation and Centenary Celebrations.

Proposals for budgets for the celebrations in other dzongkhags and outside Bhutan have been made too.

The procurement sub-committee has finalized all procurement items like items for chipdrel, banquet furniture and utensils at subsidized rate from foreign companies.

Procurement of religious items like Kusung Thugten Mendrel and writings of Sungtens are in full swing. Other necessary procurement items are also put in place.

The Ministry of Works and Human Settlement has done a face lift of bridges in the capital. Renovation and construction of Changlimithang stadium is almost completed. Re-maintenance of sport facilities and motor roads in the capital and other dzongkhags has been completed.

The Ministry has evaluated bids concerning to procurement and installation of Road Regulatory and cautionary signs. Roofs paintings and white wash of the buildings, planting additional trees along the sidelines of roads and maintaining cleanliness in the capital are taken up Thimphu City Corporation.

As part of activities, the City Corporation looked after the construction of vegetable market and public toilets. Construction of automobile workshop at Olarangchu and impounding of stray dogs are also taken over the City Corporation.

The Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs has completed the construction and renovation of Tshechu pavilion Tashichhodzong and memorial chorten. Some of renowned dzongs and museums in other dzonkghags are also renovated.

Ministry of Finance and the Department of National Properties have purchased and furnished equipment and stationeries for the celebrations.

Zhung Dratshang has arranged a Zakar for the Coronation and religious items has been procured from Nepal. Writing of Sungtens and tributes to His Majesty are also initiated by the Dratshang. Kurims have been performed in various Dzongkhags and will be performed prior to the celebrations.

Ministry of Health has identified the national referral hospital as the main emergency back up. The hospital in Thailand has proposed to provide emergency medical services during the celebrations. A team of medical specialist equipped with latest medical equipment will also offer free medical services.

Construction of new vegetable shed, green house stations are ensured by the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry has also proposed to buy horses from China for Chipdrel purposes during the celebrations.