By March next year, Bumthang town will wear a new look with blacktopped double-lane roads equipped with streetlights and pedestrian footpaths. This is according to the Dzongkhag Administration, which claims almost 70 per cent of the works are completed until now. However, people in Chamkhar town are unhappy with the progress of the blacktopping of one of the busiest stretch of the town’s internal roads, which has remained bare for over six months now.
In about four months, the roads, which are nearing completion, will be blacktopped and become a new feature of Bumthang town. The Construction Development Corporation (CDCL), which is carrying out the construction works is widening and blacktopping the town’s entire 21-kilometre ring road. The project is worth Nu 145 M and is funded through the Indian Government’s Small Development Project (SDP) budget.
The former Bumthang Dzongda, Pasang Dorji said, “in addition to all the ongoing road-widening works, we also recently got about Nu 23 M through the SDP funding to widen, blacktop and facelift the Jakar Lhakhang to Dekiling road. Overall, the entire urban road development project will be complete within March next year.”
However, the road stretch between Chamkhar’s vegetable market and the bus station has remained exposed and dusty for quite some time. A base course has been laid but people are not happy with the condition of the road.
A resident of Chamkhar town, Sangay Phuntsho said, “It’s been almost six months now that there has been no progress with the blacktopping works. The dust from the road is bothering both shopkeepers and customers. We even asked the contractor when he would begin his work and he assured us that the works would commence within a week’s time. But now it’s been almost five months without any progress. We don’t know what went wrong”.
The Dzongkhag Administration says the road has a marshy area, which has been dug out and replaced with sand and gravels. However, works are expected to begin soon. “The marshy area is affecting the asphalt condition. There must be some issues with the dust but I have told the municipality officials to sprinkle water on the road often. The contractor is ready to go ahead with the blacktopping works but we told him we need to understand the nature of the area and carry out required mitigation works before blacktopping. So we would like to ask the public to kindly cooperate for few months”, said the former Bumthang Dzongda.
Meanwhile, a new truck parking is also under construction and the old truck parking will be relocated. The current bus station will be moved to a new building near the Chamkhar football ground. Once moved, the current bus station will be used as a taxi parking.
Kipchu
