The enthusiastic construction of the 720MW Mangdechhu hydroelectric project has affected the highway between Trongsa and Zhemgang. Hundreds of vehicles, both big and small ply the road every day and the highway has become worse for wear.
The road has, especially, deteriorated between Trongsa and Langthil where the Mangdechhu project lies.
Both motorists and inn-keepers along the highway complain about dust, speeding cars, and heavy vehicles. “All our belongings have been ruined by the dust. Customers complain about unhygienic conditions and we are seeing fewer customers also”, says an inn-keeper.
Even people not within the immediate vicinity of the project have not escaped the woes of a bad road. Villagers from as far as Korphu say that taxis refuse to drop them to their village due to the condition of the road. “Taxi-drivers complain that their cars break down on this road. After much haggling, the drivers charge a fee of Nu.3,000-4,000. We cannot afford such a fee”, says Tashi Penjor, a villager from Korphu.
The situation is set to improve though. The Department of Roads handed over the entire 43.5 km road to the project for maintenance on April 1. The project will carry out regular maintenance of walls and the drainage system until its completion. An estimated Nu.600 million has been set aside for repair and maintenance by the project.
The executive engineer from the Department of Roads, Trongsa has said maintenance work will be strictly monitored by the department and the project will have to follow the technical specifications provided by it.
The highway stretches from Dzongkhalum in Trongsa till Dangdung in Langthil.
Major repair works will be completed within ten months.
