After years of waiting, residents of Chhamina village in Thimphu will finally see the road connecting them to the capital city blacktopped. Currently, more than 40 households face daily challenges due to the road’s poor condition. The blacktopping project, expected to improve connectivity and community livelihoods, was inaugurated yesterday.
At the inaugural ceremony, the home minister urged the community to take up responsibility for the project by monitoring the quality of work and ensuring standards are met.
The road, stretching just over a kilometre, was originally built by 15 households of Chhamina in 2018. Villagers say that once the road is blacktopped, they will be able to transport their vegetables with ease.
Today, the road is riddled with potholes and becomes nearly impassable during the summer, with half of the stretch often inaccessible.
“In the past, during the monsoon, vehicles couldn’t reach our homes, and we had to park them on the roadside and walk. With the blacktopping, these problems will be resolved. We are very thankful to the government,” said Tshering Dolma, Resident, Chhamina, Kawang Gewog, Thimphu.
“The road has been helpful even before the blacktopping, but now with a smooth surface, it will benefit us a hundred per cent,” said Sonam Dorji, Resident, Chhamina, Kawang Gewog, Thimphu.
“The people here depend on agriculture and livestock for a living. The project aims to ease their work and encourage them to continue farming and even expand it,” said Dawa Tshering, Kawang Gup, Thimphu.
Residents of Chhamina grow vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, radish, carrots, and beans on a commercial scale. According to the gup, families earn around Nu 350,000 every year from selling vegetables.
With better road access, some are planning to expand their production.
The Government of India is funding the Nu 3.6 M blacktopping project under the High Impact Community Development Projects. Works will include drainage construction, GSB works, which is the laying of gravel over a certain portion of the road, and blacktopping of the whole stretch. It is expected to be complete by February next year.
For the people of Chhamina, the improvement of the road is more than convenience; it is about improved opportunities, food security, and rural prosperity.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
