The road leading to Garpawoong Middle Secondary School in Samdrup Jongkhar has been in bad condition for over five years now. The deteriorating road conditions have turned into a nightmare for both students and teachers, making their journey to the school an arduous one. The residents say it’s high time for the district and gewog administrations to address the road’s maintenance before a potential disaster occurs.
Of the four-kilometre road leading to Garpawoong Middle Secondary School, two and a half kilometres of the stretch under Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde’s jurisdiction have been blacktopped, enhancing its condition.
However, the remaining one and a half kilometres falling within the Dewathang Gewog’s jurisdiction are in bad condition.
The road’s deterioration is so severe that it now resembles a stream, making driving challenging due to the continuous flow of water.
Moreover, a shallow stream that passes through the road poses a significant safety risk to the students.
“It seems that road maintenance has been neglected for years. With many students using taxis, the risk associated with poor road conditions is concerning. The road quality here is far from satisfactory,” said Sonam Wangchuk, a resident.
“The road and bridges here face the force of the stream, making travel inconvenient and risky for students,” said Tshering Samdrup, another resident.
“The road is riddled with potholes and driving becomes incredibly challenging. For students walking to school, the situation is even riskier as the stream swells during rainfall,” said Karma Lhamo, also a resident.
“The road condition from the bridge to the school is extremely poor. During the mid-term exam this year, heavy rains washed away the road, causing us significant inconveniences and requiring us to arrive at school early in the morning,” said Jigme Tenzin, a student of Garpawoong MSS.
Meanwhile, the district education sector does not have immediate plans to maintain the road due to budget constraints. However, road maintenance is part of their plans outlined in the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Until the road receives the necessary attention, students, teachers, and residents will have to endure the existing situation.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Sonam Pem
