The residents and commuters using the 17-kilometre-long Wolakha to Talo highway in Punakha are calling for immediate improvement of the road. The road is filled with potholes, causing inconvenience for traffic to and from the Talo Goenpa. People of the gewog, tourists, and other locals use the road to visit the Talo Goenpa.
The Talo road starts at the Wolakha junction. It was first constructed in 1989, and residents say it was last blacktopped some two decades ago.
Over the years, with many commuters using the road, residents say the road’s quality has deteriorated.
With the road in bad shape, people say it damages vehicles and poses risks to those residing near it.
“With the road filled with potholes, it is a big problem for vehicles. We have high hopes that the road will be blacktopped. They do fill the potholes, but it get washed away during summer. So, the road is an inconvenience,” said Holem, Ghangthramo_Labtsakha_Sewdrangsa Chiwog’s resident.
“When the PDP government during its first tenure as a government blacktopped other GC roads, our GC road was not blacktopped saying it was already blacktopped. It was left as it is. That is the reason why our road is in such dire state. It has been several years,” said Rinzin Wangchuk, Talo Gup.
The Talo Gup raised the issue in the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu. He informed the House that the road is narrow, filled with potholes, and that people have been complaining.
Meanwhile, the Department of Surface Transport’s Regional Office in Lobesa said that a budget of about 50-million-ngultrum has been proposed to the government for blacktopping and drain improvement works.
According to the chief engineer, the regional office is expecting budget approval for the next financial year.
The chief engineer added that if the budget is approved, the office will float tenders in July and August, and work will begin by September.
He also added that it can be completed by May of next year.
However, regarding the road’s width, the chief engineer informed the House that the existing road is a dzongkhag highway and is of standard size.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
Edited by Sherub Dorji
