The Gyalsung project in Tareythang Gewog, Sarpang, is benefiting the residents in the gewog, most notably its businessmen. The project has brought better roads, a boom in small businesses, and new income opportunities to the once quiet locality. For farmers and shopkeepers alike, Gyalsung has become more than just an infrastructure project; it’s a source of livelihood.
Until a few years ago, Tareythang was a quiet gewog with barely any traffic. Today, the roads tell a different story, busy with vehicles of all kinds, a direct result of the Gyalsung project coming up in the region.
But it’s not just the roads that have changed. The local economy has seen a remarkable boost. From just one or two shops a few years ago, Tareythang now has around 40 small businesses, most of them depending entirely on customers from the project site.
Shopkeepers say workers from the project make up the majority of their daily customers, buying groceries, eating meals, and keeping their businesses running.
“Earlier, we didn’t have many people here. Now, with the Gyalsung project, many people are coming to work here, and our business is doing well. Most of our customers are workers from the project,” said Sangay Wangmo, a shopkeeper at Tareythang, Sarpang.
“The Gyalsung project has been very helpful for small businesses like ours. It has also encouraged many new shops to open. Earlier, there were only one or two shops here,” said Pema Lhaden, another shopkeeper.
And the growth isn’t slowing down; a few more shops are currently under construction, a sign of growing confidence in the local economy.
Beyond shopkeepers, farmers in the gewog are also reaping the benefits. Many now have a ready market to sell their farm produce directly to the project site, while others have found employment opportunities with the Gyalsung project itself, giving families a steady source of income closer to home.
For a gewog that once had little economic activity, the Gyalsung project has become a lifeline, connecting roads, boosting businesses, and creating jobs. As construction continues, residents of Tareythang say they’re hopeful this is just the beginning of greater changes to come.
Passang Dorji/Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
