Phuentsholing’s once constant traffic congestion is now a thing of the past. In just a few years, the town’s roads have transformed, easing commutes for locals and Indian truckers alike. The improvements are due to the construction of a bypass, the Mini Dry Port and the Allay Land Customs Station. These projects were funded by the Asian Development Bank and the government.
Before these interventions, trucks carrying industrial goods to and from Pasakha had to pass through the border gate, and then squeeze through the town’s narrow roads.
The bottleneck slowed both local traffic and the highway to Pasakha.
Today, the Mini Dry Port and the Allay Land Customs Station, both opened a few years ago, allow trucks to complete customs and logistics procedures without entering town.
The land customs station alone handles around 150 trucks daily, while the dry port can process up to 56 trucks at once, easing congestion.
Salman, a driver said, “Earlier, it took almost an hour to drive through Jaigaon to Pasakha, and the road conditions were poor. Now, using this station, the trip takes about 10 minutes, and clearances are done within 10 to 15 minutes. It has made things much easier and faster for us.”
Muhammad Alim, another driver said, “Here, it takes an hour at most to get clearance, even when there are many trucks. That’s why everyone prefers coming through Pasakha. It is faster and avoids the long delays in Jaigaon.”
Moreover, the three-kilometre Northern Bypass, opened in 2020, also diverts vehicles away from town, further easing traffic pressure.
For residents, this was a much-needed change. Drivers say the roads are no longer jammed behind long lines of trucks, making it easier for them to navigate through town.
Gyembo Dorji, a taxi driver said, “Before, when all the Indian trucks had to pass through the Phuentsholing gate, traffic was terrible. Cars didn’t even fit on the roads. But with the Pasakha land customs station and the bypass, it has really helped light vehicles like ours.”
Thromde officials said that these developments are considered among the country’s most successful infrastructure projects in recent years.
Uttar Kumar Rai, Phuentshogling Thrompon said, “In the past, all customs clearances had to be done inside town, so what should have taken minutes often took hours because of traffic. That affected people’s work and, in turn, the economy. Today, commercial vehicles no longer enter the main town. They go directly through the mini dry port and the bypasses, while industrial trucks use the Pasakha land customs station. Traffic has improved tremendously.”
Officials said that though these projects may not eliminate congestion entirely, for now, they have given Bhutan’s busiest commercial hub some much-needed breathing space.
Karma Samten Wangda/Kinley Dem
