Residents of Samtse town have long grappled with dusty unpaved roads. However, there is good news. The ongoing road blacktopping on the outskirts of the town is set to bring relief to the residents. Apart from some minor maintenance, the town’s roads have not seen any significant renovations since 2018.
For years, Samtse town and its peripheral areas have suffered from dusty roads that are bumpy and unpaved, especially during the dry season.
Despite efforts by the municipal office to ease the problem by watering the roads, residents continue to endure the inconvenience.
However, there is optimism as the blacktopping of about a nine-kilometre road in the town’s periphery is underway.
“Previously, we faced significant challenges as taxi drivers due to the poor road condition in and around the town area, which had not been maintained for quite some time. With the ongoing blacktopping of roads, we anticipate improvements and look forward to smoother roads,” said Karma Khendra, a resident of Samtse.
“Driving through the town areas required us to be extremely cautious to avoid raising dust and troubling others. With the completion of town planning, it would be beneficial for the roads within the town to be blacktopped soon. This will not only enhance the cleanliness but also address the challenges we face,” said Kinzang Dorji, also a resident.
However, the municipal office said that the road within the core town area will not be blacktopped at the moment. Instead, they are planning to blacktop it in a later phase.
The ongoing blacktopping project will cover the road, stretching from the Gurung Basti to the Samtse border gate. Furthermore, it will also include the road connecting the town to the hospital area and continue to the Samtse prison in the Dhamdum area.
The project worth around Nu 17 M aligns with the government’s plans to develop pothole-free roads and footpaths across all thromde areas, including Samtse.
Additionally, it aims to make the area cleaner by reducing dust. The blacktopping work is expected to complete by next week.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sonam Pem
