Residents of Dhamzhasa-Tsaphelthang Chiwog in Norbugang Gewog, Samtse are excited about the long-awaited blacktopping of their farm road. The 4.6-kilometer stretch is one of the district’s oldest roads and serves about 300 households. Work is set to begin later this year, promising better connectivity for the gewog’s largest chiwog.
For years, the farm road, constructed in 2005, has remained in poor condition, causing significant challenges for the residents. Despite occasional maintenance efforts funded by small budgets, the road’s condition failed to improve.
Jag Bdr Rai, a resident said “Even with maintenance, the road remained unimproved. We grow plenty of vegetables, but due to the high transportation costs caused by the poor road condition, we hardly make any profit.”
Bishnu Kumar Ghalley, another resident said “The road is currently in poor condition, and blacktopping it sooner would make a big difference. Once improved, it will greatly enhance convenience and make travel much easier for everyone.”
Ganga Bdr Ghalley, who is also a resident said “If the road is improved, taxi fares would be more affordable. Currently, many drivers refuse to carry us because of the bad condition, and we end up paying exorbitant fares.”
However, the situation is expected to change for the better soon. According to the Norbugang Gewog Administration, the farm road will finally undergo blacktopping under the Small Development Project (SDP) Phase 1. The project, with an estimated budget of over Nu 20 M, includes widening and blacktopping the entire stretch.
Tenders for the project are expected to be floated by the end of this month, with work likely to commence by next month. Once complete, the blacktopped road will significantly improve connectivity and reduce transportation costs for around 300 households in Dhamzhasa-Tsaphelthang Chiwog.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
