The East-West highway widening works are expected to complete only by next one to two years. This was shared by the Minister for Works and Human Settlement during the question hour session of the National Assembly today. Missing several deadlines, the completion of the East-West highway widening project had always been a recurring question raised during every parliament session since the start of the project in 2014.
The Bartsham-Shongphu’s member of parliament (MP) asked the Works and Human Settlement Minister about the progress of the East-West Highway widening works.
“During the second session of the third parliament, the works and human settlement minister claimed that 96% of the east-west highway widening works have been completed. Likewise, in the third session, he said that the works will be complete by the mid of this year and by this year people will hear good news regarding the completion of the project. But till date, we have not received any such good news,” said Passang Dorji (PhD), the Bartsham-Shongphu MP.
Responding to the question, Works and Human Settlement Minister Dorji Tshering said the ministry is working on a 100-kilometre stretch from Ura till Lingmithang which will further extend the deadline of the project.
“The 96% that I mentioned last year was with regard to the works completed by the previous government. But in terms of the current government’s progress on the widening work, we have only completed about 10%. We are currently working on about 100 km road from Ura till Lingmithang which has been left unattended till now. That’s why, in one or two years time, if you are to travel to the east, the road will be as good as the current road condition from Thimphu to Bumthang,” Lyonpo said.
Lyonpo added, considering the importance of the road stretch, about Nu 700 M has been invested in the road so far. For now, eight different contractors are working on the project.
Passang Dorji
