The roadblock at Bongburi along Pema Gatshel-Nganglam highway will open to traffic by the end of this month. The portion of the road was closed to traffic after the base was completely washed away by a stagnant pond almost a month ago. The roads department is carrying out the restoration works. Bongburi in Dungmaed gewog is about 60 kilometres away from Pema Gatshel.
The road at Bongburi was built on a stream using boulders and sand. The stream water stagnated over time and washed away the road in August leaving the people of La-Nyiri, Dungmaed and Woongborang of Dungmaed gewog are affected.
They now have to carry everything on their back and walk to get to the other end of the roadblock. If they are lucky enough, they might get a vehicle when they get to the other end of the block. Else, they continue to walk until they reach their destination.
“It is a problem when transporting essential items and while referring the patients. Also, we travel to Pema Gatshel for official works such as obtaining Citizenship Identity Card and for census related works. We have to pay extra charges due to the roadblock,” said Tashi Phuntsho, a resident of La-Nyiri.
“We have to bring all the essentials from Denchi. It is an issue for the villagers most of whom are elderly people who cannot walk properly. Secondly, we have to hire vehicle as we don’t have our own one. So, we have to pay 500 ngultrum till here and another 500 from the other end of the roadblock to Dungmaed. In the past, we used to only 800 ngultrum,” said Ngerjay, another resident of La-Nyiri.
Wangdi the Executive Engineer of Department of Roads office in Samdrup Jongkhar said the department is reconstructing the road as it is not feasible to construct a bridge. “The length is 190ft. It might take five to six months to procure materials. And we thought it will be easier and faster if we reconstruct the road. We are also going to install Hume pipe, which wasn’t there in the past.”
Today, trucks and other machineries are deployed on both ends of the block to expedite the works.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel.
Edited by Phub Gyem
