Access to a road is a luxury many in Wangdue Phodrang’s Daga Gewog now enjoy. Nearly every house in the three chiwogs is now connected to the main farm road through new internal roads, easing transportation challenges and improving livelihoods. Works on the remaining two chiwogs are expected to be completed next month. The government has allocated four million ngultrum from the 2024–2025 financial year budget for the internal road construction.
This is Sili-Tasha Chiwog. Earlier, farm roads didn’t reach individual homes, forcing residents to carry goods to the nearest road. Now, new branch roads have been built from the main farm road, reaching every household.
Likewise, works have been completed in Kamina-Wogyal Chiwog and Kamichhu-and Uma Khamaed Chiwog. Works in the remaining two chiwogs of Uma Khatoed and Gyapakha will be completed next month.
Since the project began in November last year, 26 new internal farm roads, ranging from 300 meters to one and a half kilometres, have been constructed across the three chiwogs.
Eleven more internal farm roads have yet to be constructed. This development has encouraged new house construction in the chiwog.
“Earlier, we had only ten households in my chiwog. Now, the number has increased to fourteen. As a result, all the houses are now connected by a farm road. There is not a single house without road access. In the past, we had to carry our goods ourselves and walk to Kamichhu. But with the road connection now, our people can transport their agricultural products directly from their doorsteps, even from their fields,” said Dorji, Kamina-Wogyal Tshogpa, Daga Gewog, Wangdue Phodrang.
“Due to a lack of a road, we have not been able to take any vegetables to the market so far. The vegetables used to spoil right in the fields. For instance, even when we grew spinach, beans, and tomatoes, they would rot in the fields because there was no one to transport them from there. However, we are hopeful that the situation will improve, now that the road has reached our area. I am now planning to apply for a loan to start a vegetable business by purchasing a vehicle,” said Rinzin, a resident of Sili-Tasha Chiwog, Daga Gewog, Wangdue Phodrang.
“All houses are now connected by a farm road, which is benefiting our people immensely. It has become much easier to transport our goods. Similarly, it is now more convenient for us to carry our harvested cereals directly home from the fields,” said Sonam Wangmo, Sili-Tasha Tshogpa, Daga Gewog, Wangdue Phodrang.
“Firstly, most of the elderly people are staying in the villages, and the roads have been constructed mainly to benefit them. Secondly, the roads make it easier for people to load their goods directly from their doorsteps into vehicles, without having to carry them. Thirdly, the goal is to avoid the emerging Gungtong issue in the villages. Therefore, the local leaders are working hard toward these objectives,” said Kinga, Gup, Daga Gewog, Wangdue Phodrang.
The gup added that respective households will be responsible for maintaining the road.
Constructing new farm roads in underserved areas is one of the pledges of the current government under its ‘Rural development – Powering our villages’ initiative.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Sonam Pem
