Indian truckers transporting boulders from Gelephu to Bangladesh now have a more convenient route. They no longer have to pass through Gelephu town to reach the mini dry port stockyard. Instead, they can use a new two-kilometre route that allows them to exit directly after loading the boulders. The new route, opened earlier this week aims to improve road safety and reduce traffic congestion in Gelephu town.
The new route is along the Gelephu-Trongsa highway from Namkhaling in Gelephu Thromde to the mini dry port stockyard. This route allows truckers to bypass the town and go directly to the stockyard.
Gelephu Thromde, in collaboration with the Bhutan Exporters Association, constructed the route.
Earlier, Indian heavy vehicles transporting boulders caused traffic jams at the town’s roundabout, especially in the mornings and evenings.
The trucks ferry boulders from the Mao and Bhur Rivers in the morning and return in the afternoon to head to Bangladesh.
“There used to be a high risk of accidents at the roundabout in the town. However, the new route will prevent this. The trucks ferrying boulders often caused traffic congestion in the heart of the town. The new alternative route has significantly reduced traffic in the town,” said Sither Dorji, vice president at Bhutan Exporters Association, Gelephu Thromde.
In addition, STCBL has begun providing fueling services to Indian truckers at the mini dry port stockyard. Indian truckers said the new route has not only reduced their travel distance but also provided convenient fueling services at the mini dry port stockyard.
The STCBL charges about 85 chhetrum more for fuel than the standard depot prices.
“The fueling service at the mini dry port stock yard has benefited the truckers because we no longer have to visit fuel depots to fuel our vehicles,” said Ashirudin Ahamad, a trucker from Assam, India.
“There was a lot of traffic on the main route. The new route is shorter and allows us to fuel our vehicles. It has really benefitted us,” said Ramjan Ali, a trucker from West Bengal, India.
Every day, more than 40 to 70 Indian multi-axle trucks, each carrying 50 to 60 tonnes of boulders and aggregates leave Gelephu for Bangladesh via the Indian highway.
Indian truckers began transporting boulders from Gelephu to Bangladesh this year.
According to the exporters, high transportation costs incurred along the Indian highways on the way to Bangladesh discourage Bhutanese truckers. As a result, they have no option but to rely on Indian truckers to transport boulders to Bangladesh.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Sonam Pem
