Residents and commuters in Gelephu are eagerly awaiting the blacktopping works over the Urban Corridor Road to be completed. This is because the old bypass becomes often impassable during the monsoon. The works are scheduled to be completed by the mid of this month.
The blacktopping of the 2.6-kilometre Gelephu Urban Corridor Road, which starts from the fuel depot to the Gelephu International Airport, started in February this year.
With the road not yet opened for traffic, vehicles are still travelling via the old route along the Ipole stream.
A new modular arch bridge over the Ipole stream was also constructed last year along the Urban Corridor Road.
With the monsoon rains already started and the Ipole stream swelling up, drivers and commuters are hoping for the project to finish before time.
Damber Singh, a taxi driver in Gelephu said, “I think we will face challenges when there is heavy rainfall while travelling along the old road. The ongoing blacktopping works need to be expedited and opened to traffic as early as possible. The old route is unpredictable during the rainy season.”
Similarly, Tau Gyeltshen another taxi driver said that it would be much better if the new route open for traffic. “The road gets washed away even when there is a light rainfall.”
The contractor carrying out the blacktopping work said that they are working hard to finish the works by the 15th of this month.
He said that the blacktopping of only around 600 metres is left along with the installation of streetlights. He added they are challenged by the bad weather conditions. The project is being carried out at a cost of more than Nu 34 M.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Tshering Zam
