For more than 20 years, the Khothakpa-Denchi road in Pema Gatshel remained rough and unpaved, making every journey a dusty and bumpy ride. But that’s finally changed since yesterday. A 1.5-kilometer stretch of the road has been blacktopped, making travel smoother and more comfortable.
Thanks to Project Dantak, the Agriculture Minister inaugurated the long-awaited upgrade.
Travellers and residents, especially those from Yalang village in Shumar Gewog, can now breathe a sigh of relief. The upgrade is being celebrated as a major achievement for the community. Even though the stretch is relatively short, the impact is huge.
Dechen Zangmo, a resident said “We never imagined that we would see blacktop on this road. We thought we would be left behind while other roads got paved. Now, we’re overjoyed to have this facility—it’s a huge change for us. It was even embarrassing to have tenants in our homes because of the dust. But now, we’re hopeful that more people will want to stay in our village, as the dust pollution has been greatly reduced”
Namgay Wangdi, another resident said “Before, the dust was everywhere. But now, the dust has reduced completely. We can grow vegetables with better quality, and we’re hopeful that we’ll get a better price when we sell them at the market.”
Likewise, a resident, Karma Wangmo said“We no longer feel the heavy vehicles rumbling down this road, and the noise is much less. We don’t have to breathe in dust anymore, even when walking along the road. In fact, we’ve started walking in the mornings and evenings now—it’s that much more comfortable”
The blacktopping work was carried out as part of a larger 63-kilometer road improvement project.
This short stretch benefits more than 50 households in the area.
With this crucial upgrade, locals and travellers can finally enjoy smoother journeys, cleaner air, and a better quality of life.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
