Potholes dot the Chuzom – Haa highway and road users say the 80-kilometre road needs maintenance. Apart from having to endure bumpy rides, road users say the potholes cause damage to their vehicles.
“For a round trip, we spend around Nu 5000 in the workshop repairing our vehicle. It’s a loss for us coming this way,” Phurba Dorji, a taxi driver, said.
“We carry a heavy load and the road is not good. They don’t maintain it properly,” Sherab, a truck driver, said.
“Without proper drains, the water flows onto the road, creating potholes. After driving on such a road, our cars would obviously need maintenance,” Chimmi Dorji, a motorist, said.
“My car is just about a year-and-a-half old and it has already started giving problems because of the bad road,” Dago Tshering, another taxi driver, said.
The Project DANTAK looks after the Chuzom – Haa highway, which falls within the jurisdiction of both Haa and Paro dzongkhag administrations. It received the maintenance contract two years ago from the Department of Roads (DoR).
However, the Project DANTAK could not execute the work. They are waiting for clearance from the Paro dzongkhag administration. The one from Haa administration has now expired.
An official from Project DANTAK said the stretch will be improved once they get clearance from both the dzongkhag administrations.
He added the highway will be widened and made into a double lane road.
The date to commence the work is yet to be finalized. But once it starts, the project will take at least two years to complete.
