The last contract package for the East-West Highway is finally expected to be completed by next month. The blacktopping of the stretch between Namling and Yongkola in Monggar is ongoing. The works were scheduled to be completed last month but were extended till next month. This is the last package to be widened and blacktopped in the 12th Five-Year Plan. Officials said there is another 18 kilometres stretch which needs to be widened and blacktopped in the next Five-Year-Plan.
The Department of Surface Transport’s regional office at Lingmithang in Monggar awarded a 63-kilometre stretch from Serpang to Yongkola in five contract packages.
Out of the five packages, the 13-kilometre stretch from Namling and Yongkola has yet to be completed. According to the site engineer, the works got delayed due to the monsoon and the shutdown of the cement factory in Nganglam. The Kuri-Gongri bridge collapse is also said to have affected them in transporting raw materials to the site.
The blacktopping of the stretch started last week. The site engineer said they are expecting to complete it by the end of this month.
The project worth more than Nu 142 M started in November 2021.
“The contractor, in fact, put up an extension proposal citing the hindrances to us and then we have scrutinised and verified. We then forwarded the proposal to the Ministerial Level Tender Committee (MLTC). On 5th January this year, the MLTC approved the 45 days extension despite the proposal of 82 days by the contractor,” said Kinzang Wangdi, the Chief Engineer of the Department of Surface Transport’s regional office at Lingmithang.
He added that the time extension was given considering the cement factory shutdown in Nganglam and frequent roadblocks in the area.
The chief engineer said the remaining 18-kilometre stretch which needs to be widened and blacktopped can not be carried out in the 12th Five-Year-Plan due to budget constraints.
“From Yongkola to Menchugang, we still have 18 kilometres of road which is not touched and widened. The road is very narrow but due to budget constraints, we are not able to do the widening works in the 12th Five-Year-Plan. However, we have apprised the ministry and the department that at least in the first year of the 13th Five-Year-Plan, this needs to be taken care of.”
Some road users said although the project missed several deadlines, it has already started benefitting them.
“In the past, it used to take about two days to reach Monggar from Wangdue and we had to spend a night in Bumthang. These days, we can reach in a day as the road is blacktopped and widened,” said Dorji Penjor, a commuter.
“In the past, due to narrow roads and fog along the road, there used to be accidents. But now the road has been blacktopped and widened and it is convenient,” said Sonam Jamtsho, a driver.
The 385-kilometre East-West Highway Widening and Blacktopping Project started in 2014. It was initially expected to be completed in 2017.
However, according to officials, the continuous flow of traffic and the occurrence of roadblocks along the highway have hindered the work progress.
Karma Wangdi, Monggar
Edited by Tshering Zam
