The people of Gase Tshogom Gewog in Wangdue Phodrang are happy to see the progress of their Gewog Centre road maintenance works. The Gewog Administration is carrying out the maintenance works in the critical four-kilometre stretch that is in dire need of renovation. The poor road condition within this stretch has caused several problems for the commuters so far. The gewog office is spending around Nu 8 M for the work.
The road maintenance works are being carried out from Gangchumigang to the Gewog office in the first phase. The road which diverges from the Wangdue-Tsirang Highway is around eleven kilometres long. However, the four-kilometre stretch usually gives most problems to commuters both in summer and winter. Locals say the stretch is mostly damaged by runoff from paddy fields.
“When we do not have good road condition, drivers and taxis charge us extra fares while going to the gewog office. Likewise, our vehicles also get damaged due to poor road conditions. However, after the road is renovated, it will become convenient for us when we go to school, gewog office or the hospital. We will be able reach to our destination faster,” says Jaku, a resident.
“The road condition is improving now as the maintenance works are being carried out. It will immensely benefit the public. Earlier, it was extremely difficult. Some vehicles used to get stuck in the puddles and drains. It is risky, especially for women drivers. A woman had a tough time after her vehicle got stuck in a puddle last time,” says Dorji, another resident.
Almost 70 per cent of the six-month-long maintenance works which began in November last year have been completed. Works are targeted to be fully completed before the onset of the monsoon this summer.
The road was built in the early 1990s and blacktopped in 2017. However, due to budget constraints, maintenance works have not been carried out so far according to the gup. With the budget finally available, works are progressing well and the Gewog Administration plans to carry out the maintenance works for the entire length of the road phase-wise.
Gase Tshogom Gup, Chador says, “The road condition between Gangchumigang and the Gewog Office has become worse as lots of potholes have developed. People have been frequently complaining about the road through the Chiwog Tshogpa and asked for a renovation project. So, we are now carrying out the maintenance works by spending Nu 7.9 M. We have completed almost half of the work so far.”
The Gewog Administration says they are focusing on the quality of maintenance works this time. The resurfacing work will add to the thickness of the blacktop which is expected to ensure the sustainability of the blacktop for a longer duration unlike before.
The gup says, “The reason for prioritising on quality is that the thickness of the earlier blacktop is only 25 millimetres. So, we are planning to increase it to 42 millimetres this time. With this, we expect the road quality would be better and people be able to use the road without any problem for the next ten years or so.”
The road is used by the people of around 250 households, apart from teachers, students and health staff in the gewog. Moreover, the road also benefits the people of neighboring gewog of Gase Tshowom.
The Gewog Administration says the maintenance of the remaining stretch will be carried out in the next phase in the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Kipchu
