A farm road constructed four years ago in Orong Gewog’s Jangchhubling village in Samdrup Jongkhar remains unutilized during the monsoon. This is because there is no motorable bridge over the Gamtshalu River. Despite being constructed to help residents, the road becomes ineffective whenever the river cannot be crossed.
Vehicles cannot cross the shallow Gamtshalu river during the monsoon. As a result, villagers have to walk nearly 30 minutes to reach Jangchhubling village.
Villagers say the four-kilometer road is fully utilized for only three to four months during the dry season. However, it remains cut off for the rest of the year during the monsoon.
Pema Dorji, a resident said “The road is connected till our doorsteps but without a motorable bridge we face a lot of problems. We are not able to transport our dairy products without it.”
“Without a motorable bridge, we are facing many challenges. In emergencies, we have to carry patients. Moreover, constructing houses is difficult because we cannot transport materials in the absence of a motorable bridge,” said Pema Rinzin, another resident.
Sangay Wangdi, who is also resident said “The road is not benefiting us fully without a motor able bridge. Although we are thankful to the government for constructing a road but without a motor able bridge, it is not benefiting us. We face challenges during emergencies and when transporting materials.”
Meanwhile, Orong Gup said there are no immediate plans to construct the bridge due to budget constraints.
He added that about Nu 20 M would be required to build the bridge over the Gamtshalu River.
The gewog administration has prioritized constructing two other bridges for Philooma Chiwog and over Dewri between Dewathang and Orong Gewog.
Until a motorable bridge is constructed over the Gamtshalu river, about 15 households in Jangchhubling village will have to continue to face the same problem.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Sonam Pem
