One year after the road widening work on the 11-kilometre stretch along the Korila and Ngatshang national highway in Monggar was suspended, there is no sign that the widening work will resume any time soon.
The execution of works along Korila and Ngatshang national highway started in March last year. However, the road widening work was suspended due to a case between the contractor and the Regional Office of Department of Roads (DoR) in Lingmethang, Monggar in June 2019.
This has affected and upset the commuters.
A bus driver, Dorji Wangdi, said that the slow progress of work has made it inconvenient and risky for them. “Due to poor road conditions, our vehicle gets damaged and it is also risky to travel on such a bumpy road.”
A taxi driver, Pema Tshering, said that they face difficulties while driving on this stretch of the road especially during the monsoon. “It is not convenient driving on such a road with passengers, especially with patients,” he said.
A truck driver, Drupchu, said that their vehicles break down often after driving on the bumpy road. “So we would be grateful if the highway is blacktopped soon. ”
In an interview with BBS in October last year, Chief Engineer Karma Rinzin from the DoR had said that they were planning to finish the work by June this year.
However, there has been no progress so far.
According to the Chief Engineer, it looks like commuters will have to wait for another year. He said that the tender for the work has been awarded and the blacktopping work will start from this month.
If it goes as planned, the blacktopping work is expected to finish by next year.
Sonam Tshering
