The contract for the construction of a bridge over Mao River in Gelegphu will be awarded to the contractors by the end of this year according to the Works and Human Settlement Minister.
This was said in response to the question asked by Panbang’s Member of Parliament (MP) today on the status of Gelephu- Panbang highway and the bridge.
According to the Panbang MP, the highway can reduce the travel time of four hours to two hours. He said the plan of construction has not been successful since the first government.
“The construction of southern highway has been stagnated and the second government left the construction after they could not construct. And now the third government has pledged to construct the highway. Besides saying they will construct, there has not been much progress,” said Dorji Wangdi, the Panbang MP.
However, the minister said the constructions will be carried out within the tenure of this government.
“Currently, we are studying and doing research on the nature of the river in winter. We now have to wait for summer. We are yet to do account works and award structural works to the contractors. Once awarded to the contractors, they will carry out research on the nature of the river in summer, and study the flow and size of the river. And accordingly, they are to develop the structure of the bridge,” said Dorji Tshering, the Works and Human Settlement Minister.
He added the bridge has to be built first as the 800-metre long bridge is first of its kind in the country and will cost a huge amount.
Meanwhile, the minister was also asked on the status of Pel-Ling – Thongshong chiwog road in Tseza Gewog under Dagana Dzongkhag connecting Kamina and Wogyal chiwogs in Darkar Gewog under Wangdue Phodrang. The question was asked by the Drukjeygang Tseza MP.
“People travelling will not have to drive around Sunkosh and Dagapela, This will reduce over 70 kilometres. In this plan, we do not have a budget allocated for the construction of this road. However, in the next plan, we are planning to discuss with both the dzongkhags and gewogs and allocate the budget,” Lyonpo said.
The Khamdang Ramjar MP also questioned the Minister on the safety of travellers on Ossey bypass and similar roads in other dzongkhags. To this, Lyonpo said taking out an alternate route could be an option which is, however, not possible in the Ossey bypass. Therefore he said travellers have to go through such roads. However, he said the situation would not be the same once the construction works are complete.
Similarly, the Maenbi Tsaenkhar MP asked the Minister to present the plans of the government to improve and widen the Mongar-Gangola-Lhuntse highway.
“We know that Lhuntse dzongkhag is left behind. And the reason to lack behind is due to the plan of Shingkhar-Gorgan bypass. They said the bypass will come soon and this has affected the construction of Mongar Gangola- Lhuntse highway. Similarly, the road from Ura to Lingmithag has also been left behind,” Lyonpo informed the House.
During the question hour session today, most of the questions were asked on roads, with roads being the main component for any other developmental activities.
Kinley Dem
