The increasing number of vehicle accidents along the road between Trailing and Jarung Khashor Chorten in Monggar has become a cause of worry for the residents. On Sunday evening, a Jumbo truck lost control and fell off the road and partially damaged a two-storied house. The residents are hoping for the Dzongkhag Administration to intervene soon. The stretch of the road recorded about ten accidents since last year.
At 10 pm on Sunday, a truck toppled on the roof of a house that is located just below the junction of the road. Fortunately, the tenant was not in the house. But some of the properties were damaged.
About two weeks ago, a truck ferrying grocery items also veered off the road near the workshop area.
According to the residents, the road is quite narrow and steep with sharp turning making it risky especially for heavy vehicles carrying goods.
“I constructed my house in 1992 but the road was constructed in 2009 only. While constructing the road, I had even requested the Dzongkhag officials to construct the road as per the map. But the municipal officials said the road will be convenient,” said Sonam Dorji, the house owner.
He said he had submitted several letters to the Dzongkhag Administration for intervention. But he is yet to receive any response.
People use the two-kilometre road along Trailing and Jarung Khashor Chorten as an alternate route between the workshop area and Monggar town.
“If such accidents continue, it is risky. No one looks into our matter even though we raised our concerns. Dzongkhag officials get irritated when we raise the issue time and again,” added the house owner.
Meanwhile, according to the Dzongkhag engineers, the contractor who is carrying out the widening and blacktopping of the road was asked to widen the stretch at the junction.
The contractor, on the other hand, said he didn’t receive any information from the Dzongkhag.
The Dzongkhag Administration awarded the road widening and blacktopping work in the periphery of Monggar town to a contractor in June 2020. The two-kilometre road stretch falls under the contract package.
The project was supposed to complete by the end of last month. However, it was delayed due to the pandemic.
Sonam Tshering, Monggar
Edited by Tshering Zam