The wait was long. But after nearly a decade, it could be just a matter of a few months before the work on a road to connect Dewathang in Samdrup Jongkhar and parts of Nganglam in Pema Gatshel begins. People have now pinned their hopes on a project report which is just a few months away from completion.
Sometime in 2012, the works and human settlement ministry compiled a detailed project report on the construction of a more than 68-kilometre highway between Dewathang and Nganglam. Construction was scheduled in 2015, but due to security reasons, it was deferred.
In 2019, words about the road construction resurfaced, but the global pandemic emerged and the construction works came to a halt, yet again. Of many, this particularly affected the household of Rishor in Dewathang.
It had already been seven years since 40-year-old Nidup Lhamo surrendered her one-acre land for construction of the road in 2012. Without the road coming up, it has become a thick forest.
“I am not allowed to do anything on the land since I got a substitute. But it is far away and I can’t grow anything there. I am just hoping that the road construction happens soon,” she said.
Like her, some locals are also holding onto the prospects the road will bring for them.
One of the villagers, Dechen Choden, said the road will bring convenience, especially while doing business.
“Due to the pandemic, travelling via India has become impossible, so this highway is our only hope,” said Chezom, another villager.
However, going by the Works and Human Settlement Minister Dorji Tshering, it won’t be long before they commence the road construction.
According to the minister, project DANTAK is preparing a project report which will be completed in the next four months.
“Once the project report is finalized, we will begin the work,” the minister added.
And with the existing gewog centre roads in both the places, the minister said more than half of their work is already done.
“So, there will be some reduction in overall new construction of the road. I am thinking we may have to construct only 25 to 30 kilometres of new road,” the minister added.
Once complete, the highway will benefit some 36 villages of Norbugang and Chokorling Gewogs in Pema Gatshel and Dewathang Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar.
KinleyWangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Chayku
