A designated fuel depot for heavy vehicles was opened in Amochhu, Phuentshogling. It is to reduce congestion caused by trucks lining up along the highway. The depot is expected to improve convenience for heavy vehicle drivers.
The depot is located at the newly developed truck parking area in Amochhu. Officials say it is to address the long-standing issue of heavy trucks lining up along the highway and within the town for refueling.
The facility will provide diesel and is mainly for trucks transporting boulders to India and Bangladesh. It will also serve other heavy vehicles and machinery. However, smaller vehicles will not be allowed to use the depot. Officials from the Bhutan Export Association say this is because Phuentshogling already has several other fuel stations.
Karma Gyeltshen, the vice president of Phuentshogling Regional Chapter, Bhutan Export Association said, “Phuentshogling is already congested, and trucks carrying boulders to India and Bangladesh made it worse. Big trucks would be lined up almost every day along the highway in Amochu, creating traffic congestion and other issues. So, if we establish all the necessary facilities here, it will benefit everyone.”
Tshewang Rinzin, the proprietor of New Export, Phuentshogling said, “Now with the establishment of the depot here, it will firstly ease the traffic congestion in the core town area as trucks line up to fuel in the depots in town, and also along the highway in Amochhu. It was also challenging for us, and there were many incidents where the traffic police and exporters had issues. So now this will really help us a lot.”
In December last year, a dedicated truck parking lot was developed on about eight acres of land near the Regional Office of Industry, Commerce and Employment. It can accommodate some 300 trucks.
With both parking and refuelling facilities now in place, officials say the initiative will support smoother transport operations and benefit the exporters.
Kinley Dem
