The dream of getting a blacktopped farm road is finally materialising for the residents of Patshaling-Toed and Patshaling-Maed chiwogs in Tsirang. This is because the Patshaling Gewog administration will blacktop the 10-kilometre farm road as part of the second phase of the farm road improvement project this year. The Tsirang district administration recently instructed the gewog administration to start groundworks for the road improvement works.
The farm road connects the two chiwogs to their gewog office and other parts of the district. The residents said the blacktopping of the road will reduce the travel time to the gewog office by half an hour, which usually takes two hours.
“We also have roads connecting Patshaling-Maed chiwog from Chhudzomsa and Thakorling chiwogs. But it remains inaccessible during the summer. This is because one of the roads has steep alignments and the other doesn’t have a bridge,” said Pema Gyeltshen, a resident of Patshaling-Maed chiwog.
“The need for the improved road is necessary because most government institutes like school, Basic Health Unit and the gewog Lhakhang are situated along this road. The road often becomes difficult to ply during summer because of incessant rainfall for a longer duration,” said Chengala, another resident.
The residents added that the road base has settled well and it merits blacktopping. The farm road was constructed in 2008.
“Once blacktopped, the road will benefit farmers of both the chiwogs since most of them focus on mass vegetable production. This would help them sell off their farm produce easily,” said Yeshi Ngedup, Patshaling Toed Tshogpa.
The Patshaling gewog administrative officer said most residents prefer blacktopping as incessant rainfall deteriorates Granular Sub-Base (GSB) roads.
The district administration is expecting to receive the blacktopping budget from the central government within this month. The two chiwogs have around 120 households with more than 500 people.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sonam Pem
