The travel distance between Wangdue Phodrang and Dagana will soon be reduced by over 50 kilometres with the construction of the 60-kilometre secondary national highway road to connect the two districts. The new road will bypass Sunkosh, which is expected to save around two hours.
Dagana district began works to connect with Wangdue Phodrang in 2019. The district constructed 18-kilomtre road between Pel-Ling chiwog and Labtsakarchu under Tseza Gewog. But construction works couldn’t continue further since the area beyond Labtsakarchu falls under Wangdue Phodrang District.
Therefore, the two districts signed a memorandum of understanding in January this year for immediate commencement of road construction works between Labtsakarchu under Tseza Gewog in Dagana to Wogayna under Darkar Gewog in Wangdue Phodrang.
The agreement requires the two district to share responsibility and budget for the construction of the bypass. Wangdue Phodrang district began the construction of more than an eight-kilometre road from Kamina-Wogyal chiwog in February this year.
Once complete, the bypass will reduce the travel time between Dagana and Wangdue Phodrang by over two hours.
“The distance between Dagana Dzong and Sunkosh at the moment is 87 kilometres whereas the distance between Dagana Dzong and Kameychhu in Wangdue Phodrang is only around 72 kilometres. Therefore, besides Dagana Dzongkhag, the bypass will also benefit as a trade route for seven districts located to the north and south of the Dagana district,” said Gyeltshen, from Tseza Gewog in Dagana.
“If we don’t have connectivity between two Dzongkhags, then there will be no point talking about economic development that we are currently talking about. I saw this road, the secondary highway is a very vital one and that’s why I have never stopped initiating and the government has the same view,” said Jurmi Wangchuk, the Member of Parliament for Drukjeygang-Tseza in Dagana.
Moreover, the road connectivity is expected to help retain people of Pel-Ling chiwog under Tseza Gewog within the chiwog since the road passes through the community. According to the Tseza gup, people in Pel-Ling chiwog started resettling in other places due to the remoteness of the place.
“Since wild animals kept on damaging crops, the farmers in the chiwog were discouraged to grow crops and most of them left the chiwog and resettled nearby Dagana Dzong on few decimals of land. But once the road gets connected with Wangdue Phodrang, I am sure many of them will return to the chiwog since developmental activities will take place in the chiwog,” said Phurba, the Tseza Gup.
“Some of them who left Pel-Ling chiwog are surviving on leased lands and some they bought few decimals of lands. But as soon as the road connectivity works between Dagana and Wangdue Phodrang have begun, many people of Pel-Ling chiwog have plans to return to the chiwog. Moreover, people from other districts started buying lands in and around Pel-Ling chiwog,” said Jaku, from Tseza Gewog.
Meanwhile, to enable uninterrupted vehicular movement after completion of the 16-kilometre road between Labtsakarchu and Wogayna, the Dagana District Administration has allocated a separate budget to maintain the existing road between Tseza Gewog and Labtsakarchu.
“On the other hand, the Dzongkhag will also carry out road improvement works between Tseza Gewog Administration and Labtsakarchu. The improvement works include widening of a sharp turning, road widening works wherever necessary and construction of a bridge over Dagachhu,” said Duba, the Dagana Dzongda.
The government is investing around Nu 36 M for the road connectivity project.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
