Frequent roadblocks at Namling between the Bumthang-Monggar Highway continue to frustrate travellers. Quite often, the blocks cannot be cleared during the day and people are forced to spend the night on the road. The area experiences frequent landslides not only during the monsoon but also in the dry season.
Continuous rainfall in the last couple of days triggered landslides at Namling on Friday evening. With darkness approaching and an excavating machine yet to arrive, clearing the roadblock on the day seemed impossible.
As a result, more than a dozen vehicles travelling through the Bumthang-Monggar Highway had to call it a night at the roadblock site. Some said it is not their first time.
“Those driving heavy vehicles do not face much trouble. But it causes a lot of inconveniences to the small vehicles. And there is a stretch near Thrumshingla area where small cars find it hard to cross in the muddy stretch as there are chances of boulders hitting the cars,” said Singay Wangchuk, a taxi driver.
“We managed to clear the minor block but we couldn’t clear the major one. So, we had to spend the night at the roadblock. There were small children and elderly people who had to sleep without any food in the car,” said Ugyen Dhendup, a trucker.
“The road closing time is also not convenient. If the road could be opened a few hours earlier in the evening, we wouldn’t get stuck at the roadblock,” said Pema Lhendup.
People say the whole stretch between Ura in Bumthang and Yongkola in Monggar is a nightmare due to the ongoing widening works.
The Department of roads awarded six contract packages worth over Nu 700 M to the contractors in September 2020. As of now, formation cutting, laying of the granular sub-base, and construction of drains and retention walls are underway.
The Chief Engineer of the Department of roads in Monggar did not comment on the Namling situation.
Regarding the widening works along the highway, he said contract issues, unfavourable weather, continuous flow of vehicles along the highway and frequent roadblocks have hindered the work progress.
Going by the deadline, the widening works of about a 63-kilometre stretch is scheduled to complete by February next year.
Sonam Tshering, Monggar
Edited by Sonam Pem
