Daily commuters and transporters are raising concerns over the worsening condition of the 7-kilometre access road to the Phuntsho Rabtenling Industrial Park in Samdrup Jongkhar. The deteriorating road is not only delaying travel but also posing serious safety risks.
Struggling to stay upright, a truck tilts dangerously as it negotiates a severely damaged stretch of road leading to the industrial park.
In a day, about 100 vehicles, mostly transporting gypsum use this road. But it is riddled with potholes and uneven surfaces, forcing heavy vehicles to tilt dangerously to one side.
The road serves as the main access route to the industrial park from Samdrup Jongkhar thromde. Heavy vehicles mostly use the road.
It was blacktopped in 2023, but its deteriorating condition within a short span has raised questions about the quality of the construction work.
Karma Tshering, commuter said “For a distance that should take just 30 minutes from the main road to the industrial estate, we take more than an hour due to the road condition. The potholes are so big that they damage tyres and other parts of the vehicle.”
Bir Bdr. Khatri, another commuter said “The road is damaged from beginning to end. Vehicles struggle to pass, and we fear they might flip over. So we drive slowly and carefully.”
Likewise, Nima Yozer said “The road constantly damages tyres and scrapes the bottom of the vehicles. It was better before, but the rains seem to have worsened it.”
According to the Department of Industry, the rapid deterioration of the road could be due to heavy monsoon impacts and the frequent movement of heavy vehicles. The previous maintenance work was carried out by Samdrup Jongkhar District Administration with funding support from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment.
The department said it was unable to secure funds from the Ministry of Finance to resurface the road, as the road is under the district administration’s jurisdiction.
The department then approached both the district administration and the Department of Surface Transport last year. The district administration agreed to repair the road if funds were provided, while the Department of Surface Transport declined, saying the road was not in its inventory.
Recently, a meeting between relevant agencies agreed to bring the road under the Department of Surface Transport.
However, no budget has been allocated yet. As a result, repair work has not started, and the road remains in poor condition.
According to the Annual Industry Report 2023-2024, 25 factories have been allotted plots in the industrial park.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Kipchu
