A river crossing once feared by commuters has now turned into a safe and reliable passage. The new 40-metre Panchfaley bridge in Umling Gewog, Sarpang, is already transforming the lives of residents in Umling and Tareythang Gewogs. Built a month ahead of schedule, the bridge not only eases travel to Gelephu but also saves the government recurring maintenance costs.
For years, crossing the Panchfaley river meant uncertainty, especially in the monsoon. Floods swept away the temporary road, leaving vehicles stuck midstream and commuters stranded for hours in the pouring rain.
Officials from the Department of Surface Transport say they had to frequently deploy machines and build makeshift culverts to restore connectivity.
A small bridge built earlier was washed away in 2023, making matters worse.
Now, with a reliable bridge in place, residents can travel to Gelephu with ease for medical care, shopping, selling farm produce, and much more.
“Earlier, every time we loaded our vehicles, we worried whether this stretch would be passable by night. That was the biggest concern for most drivers. During the monsoon, vehicles often got stuck in the middle of the river, and we had to call in excavators to pull them out,” said Amber Singh Chettri, a commuter, Gelephu.
“With the new bridge, it’s a huge relief for drivers like us. Earlier, crossing this river was a major challenge, especially during the monsoon when all types of vehicles struggled. Now, that worry is gone,” said Passang Tshering Sherpa, another commuter, Sarpang.
Officials from Umling and Tareythang Gewogs, the direct beneficiaries of the bridge, added that it has greatly improved connectivity.
The new steel composite bridge, standing 40 metres long, was completed in 18 months, ahead of the July deadline. The bridge construction began in January last year.
The bridge was constructed at a cost of over Nu 67 M. Alongside the bridge, 130 metres of washed-out road was restored with protection walls and a plantation.
For the nearly 600 households in Umling and Tareythang, the bridge is more than infrastructure; it is a lifeline. And with the need for temporary repairs and costly machinery deployments now gone, the government also saves money every monsoon.
Passang Dorji, Gelephu
Edited by Sonam Pem
