Nganglam under Pema Gatshel now has a mini dry port to facilitate smooth imports and exports of essentials during the pandemic. The Eastern COVID-19 Coordination Office and Nganglam Dungkhag Administration constructed the port as an interim measure. It will also serve as the first layer containment area for imported goods for most of the eastern districts.
Located next to the Nganglam integrated checkpoint, the MDP will serve as a containment area with a place to rest, toilets and bathrooms. And then without having any contact with foreign drivers, goods will be transhipped to Bhutanese vehicles from the transhipment bay.
The transhipment bay has stocking yard and goods from four trucks can be transhipped at the same time. After transhipment is done, Indian trucks will leave for India within a few hours. Meanwhile, Bhutanese vehicles will be quarantined for about two to three days before allowing them to move to other parts of the country.
“People from Monggar, Pema Gatshel as well as from Zhemgang travel from here and now with this MDP, it will benefit six eastern districts as well as Nganglam. Before drivers had no place to stay but now drivers have a place to take rest,” said Ugyen Dorji, the Gup of Norboogang Gewog in Pema Gatshel.
“Till now we didn’t have a proper place to keep and tranship goods in Nganglam. So, many shopkeepers had problems taking goods from here. Now with this mini dry port, I think it will benefit everyone,” added Nima Dendup, the Nganglam Town Thuemi.
Loaders will also be put under self-containment area in the mini dry port. The government invested more than Nu 4 M to construct the port. The mini dry port is expected to minimise the risk and curtail the outbreak of COVID-19 in Nganglam. Nganglam has become one of the main gateways for eastern districts with the highway connecting Panbang, Gyalpoizhing and Pema Gatshel.
Kinley Wangchuk
