Residents of Chamkhar in Bumthang are not happy with the quality of blacktopping works in the town. It was done recently in one of the town’s internal roads. A local contractor in Chamkhar carried out the blacktopping works about one and a half months ago.
Pebbles can already be seen coming off from almost the entire length of the 400-meter road. The road was blacktopped with a budget of Nu 2.5 M. The residents are now upset over the quality of the work.
“We had to make do with the dusty road for almost six months. The road was finally blacktopped on 15th December but we are sceptical about the quality of the work executed here,” said Pema Dorji, a resident.
“We thought we would have a better road after the blacktop. We don’t know how long the blacktop will last as patches of pebbles can already be seen coming apart,” said Kuenga Tshering, another resident.
The site engineer of the project, Pema Rinzin said that the road has not been handed over to the Dzongkhag Engineering Sector yet. He also said he has noticed the poor work quality.
And notice was also issued last week to the contractor to redo the work.
However, the contractor said the work quality was not compromised and all the standards were followed as far as possible.
“It is not the case of the entire blacktop coming apart. During the blacktop laying work, the people gathered at the site scattered the bitumen mixture all over the place and moreover, the roller machine couldn’t compress the pebbles on the edges of the road due to the lack of space between the road and the shops. That’s why people think the work is of inferior quality,” said Tenzin Chodak, the contractor of Tee Dor Construction.
He added that “in accordance with the notice issued by the engineer, I will carry out the work as the weather becomes warmer.”
He said the work will be redone by March along with the blacktopping of the old bus parking.
Kipchu, Bumthang
