Bad roads are not just confined to rural areas. They are a widespread problem affecting even urban communities. One such place is Debsi in Chang gewog. Its proximity to the capital made it attractive for land buyers and housing. Real growth began more than 20 years ago, but infrastructure gaps still plague the area.
The problem begins right at the entrance to Debsi, where a two-decade-old bailey bridge greets residents and visitors. It is not only a narrow single lane, but also lacks a safe passage for pedestrians.
People have been requesting a new, wider bridge for years.
And then comes the road. It is filled with potholes. Volunteers attempted to fill the potholes last year, but the heavy traffic caused them to reappear.
Additionally, locals said that the runoff from the clogged drains near the bridge is worsening the road conditions.
“There are problems while walking on this bridge. While it is narrow, metal sheets sticking out pose a risk of injuring legs. It is particularly risky for students whose parents cannot pick them up. As the bridge is narrow, there are chances that they might get hit by a vehicle or fall into the river. It would be nice to have a bridge with separate lanes for people and vehicles,” said Lhaden, a resident of Debsi.
Taxi Driver Dawa Drakpa said, “We face major inconveniences. As a taxi driver, when we come here to drop off passengers, water from the large potholes often gets splashed onto pedestrians. People even scold us, questioning the way we drive. However, we drive slowly because of the potholes. Due to the poor condition of the road, such situations happen from time to time.”
“Even though we have a personal car, my husband needs it to go to the office. As I have to frequently travel to town to get stock for the shop, even taxi drivers refuse to come here. And when they do, they charge extra fare,” said Sangay Dema, another resident of Debsi.
According to Chang Gup, the drains are currently being repaired. A UNDP project is pumping in Nu 1 M.
She added that the infrastructure and transport ministry has also approved Nu 70 M in this financial year. It is to improve the roads in the Debsi Local Area Plan.
An official from the ministry said that the contract for a two-lane concrete bridge has already been awarded. With a budget of over Nu 73 M, construction will begin next month. It is expected to be ready in the next ten months.
For residents, the long wait for safer roads and a proper bridge may finally be nearing an end, but until then, daily struggles continue.
Kelzang Chhophyel
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
