With increasing number of cars plying via a one-way Bailey bridge near Paro College of Education, commuters were often frustrated. Waiting in a queue by the bridge made people impatient every day. However, with the inauguration of Paachhu Bridge near the Paro International Airport yesterday, commuters’ woes have been addressed.
Motorists and commuters are happy they no longer have to endure uncomfortable rides. “Previously, travelling via the single lane bridge was tough especially when two vehicles ply at one go. In such a situation, our car’s rear mirror breaks. We are thankful to the government for this new bridge,” said a taxi driver, Tshering.
Others too have heaved a sigh of relief after the Paachu Bridge opened to traffic. “While travelling along the Bailey bridge, motorists used to come from both the directions and often argued due to limited space to ply through. Now we are very relieved as we have an alternate route,” said one of the commuters, Karma Tenzin.
Unlike Bailey Bridge, Paachhu Bridge has the carrying capacity of 70 metric tonnes allowing even heavy vehicles to travel along it. “Via Pachhu Bridge, the road from Bondey to Tshongdey is shortened by a kilometre,” said Kinley Dorji, the Executive Engineer of Department of Roads in Paro.
The construction of Paachhu Bridge began in July, 2016 by the Construction Development Corporation Limited (CDCL) and was supposed to be complete by October last year. However, due to other additional works, the deadline was extended further by three months.
“The Bridge was completed on time. But somehow there needed a minor deviation in the approach road towards the bridge. So this took three months to complete,” justified the Project Manager of CDCL, Gem Tshering.
The construction of 50-metre long Paachhu Bridge was funded by the Government of India.
