People of Samtse Dzongkhag are already reaping the benefits of the partially completed Samtse-Phuentsholing highway. To complete the highway, the construction of about eight-kilometre road from the Amochu Bridge towards Phuentsholing is yet to begin.
Although the highway construction began in February 2005, till date, only the construction from Samtse side has progressed. Earth works and construction of culverts and walls for the fifty-kilometre stretch are complete. And by June, around 20 kilometres will be black-topped.
From Phuentsholing side, first cutting of only about two kilometres has been completed. After that works did not take-off as the Department of Roads had plans to integrate their road alignment plans with the development activities as envisioned in the Land Reclamation Project. And for people, waiting for the Project that will take decades to complete, was a matter of concern.
“The bridge will be completed somehow. Now we are worried about the road, which will take at least 2-3 years to complete. So if the government could look into the matter, we would be grateful,” said S.B Tamang, a local resident.
“Sooner the road completes, better for us as we won’t have to travel along the river banks which damages our vehicles,” said another local resident, Man Bahadur Mongar.
According to the Department of Roads, the road alignment passes through the landslide prone area triggered by the river. So, the Department is in the process of working out technically feasible and economically viable solution. This also delayed works.
“We had proposed funds for that but every year there was down-scaling of the fund by the finance ministry because probably there were funding gaps in other priority projects. So the requisite funds were not given,” said the, Executive Engineer of the Department of Roads in Phuentsholing, N.L Rai.
However, the Department is now planning to take up the road construction works by next financial year. About Nu.70 million has already been proposed to the finance ministry for the first-cutting and construction of culverts and walls.
“We cannot afford to lose the bigger picture of connecting Samtse with the rest of the Nation. It is not only of strategic importance but from the view point of trade and commerce as well. So Samtse must be connected to the mainstream of national economy. Connectivity is the key. We must start linking these two districts as soon as possible,” the Executive Engineer said.
The department expects to complete constructing the first four kilometres by the end of next year. The rest will be completed during the next five year plan.
