For some time now, road users and nearby residents of Tading Gewog in Samtse have been frustrated with the poor condition of the Gewog Center Road. In 2020, the Department of Surface Transport assumed ownership of the road which serves as a crucial link in connecting Phuentshogling with Gomtu town via Tading Gewog. Despite its significance, the road remains one of the last unpaved gewog centre roads in Samtse.
The poor state of the Tading Gewog Centre road has become a concern for the community. During the monsoon, small vehicles struggle to navigate this stretch.
“The road from the highway till here in our gewog is not blacktopped and it is causing numerous problems. Small vehicles cannot use this stretch during the monsoon. We are also facing a lot of challenges due to the poor road condition,” said Phub Dorji Pokhrel, a resident.
“The condition of the road becomes worse during the monsoon. For now, the road is quite good as heavy vehicles for mining projects are using the road. But during monsoon, it becomes very challenging for all and especially for children,” said Shetoman Tamang, another resident.
Dust pollution is another pressing issue, especially during winter, affecting both the environment and the health of people residing along the stretch.
“Heavy vehicles cause a lot of dust here and since we are located near the road, dust gets into our houses. Besides dirtying our clothes and food, the dust is causing flu almost throughout the year affecting our health,” said Yapem Doya, a resident.
Private mining companies, which rely on this route for transportation, also face challenges. The issue is not just with the unpaved GC road. Larichu Bridge along the GC road has limited load capacity. This forces the heavy vehicles to cross the river, causing delays, increasing costs, and posing safety risks.
Dorji Tshering, a resident said, “We have about eight mining companies here in Tading Gewog and we have to use this route during summer. The bridge which comes in between the GC road is weak and cannot carry heavy loads, as such we have to cross the river. This affects us a lot. At times we cannot cross the river and sometimes our vehicles are severely damaged while crossing the river.”
The Tading Gewog Administration has held numerous discussions with the Department of Surface Transport, emphasizing the urgency to improve the road’s condition.
Tading Gup, Yam Bahadur Ghalley said, “We have written numerous times to the Department of Surface Transport with regard to the matter. We have also requested the office to at least help in blacktopping the 2-kilometre gewog centre road rather than blacktopping the entire stretch till Gomtu. The office in return said that they don’t have enough budget and that is how the GC road has remained unpaved till now.”
Officials from the Department of Surface Transport have identified a budget to carry out maintenance works and lay a base course on the entire Phuentshogling-Gomtu internal road, which includes the Tading Gewog Center road. While a budget proposal was recently submitted to the Infrastructure and Transport Ministry, it was not approved due to financial constraints. The office intends to resubmit the budget proposal in the upcoming year.
The Tading Gewog Center road, constructed in 2014, plays a critical role as a lifeline for over 600 households across three chiwogs within the gewog.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sangay Chezom
