Despite repeated complaints, the access road to the Phuntsho Rabtenling Industrial Park in Samdrup Jongkhar has remained unrepaired for more than two years now. Navigating the poorly maintained road has become a daily struggle, especially for drivers transporting industrial goods to the industrial park. More than a hundred heavy vehicles use the road every day.
The seven-kilometre access road to the Phuntsho Rabtenling Industrial Park from Samdrup Jongkhar town remains riddled with potholes and uneven surfaces.
Hundreds of heavy vehicles use this road to transport gypsum and other industrial goods to the industrial park, which has around 25 industries operating.
The poor road condition slows traffic and poses risks of accidents.
“During the rainy season, vehicles often get stuck in the mud, making it difficult to reach the factories for unloading. We are unable to deliver on time, and the poor road condition frequently damages our vehicles. Most of what we earn ends up being spent on vehicle maintenance,” said Dorji Gyeltshen, a driver in Samdrup Jongkhar.
“We are really struggling because of the road condition. Our vehicles are frequently damaged, and every trip is risky. We’re always worried that a vehicle could overturn or meet with an accident,” said Ngawang, another driver.
A private silicon manufacturing company originally constructed the road. However, its maintenance was left in limbo due to a lack of clear ownership.
The Samdrup Jongkhar District Administration did maintain it once in 2021 with 113 million ngultrum from the Department of Industry. However, its condition deteriorated with hundreds of heavy vehicles using it every day.
Last year, the Department of Industry said the road would be brought under the Department of Surface Transport.
The Department of Industry now says the road has been handed over to the Department of Surface Transport.
However, the Department of Surface Transport says it was only recently directed to carry out a cost estimation to improve the road.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chandra Bahadur Gurung said, “The road is not listed in the surface transport department’s inventory. So, in the past month, we discussed and decided to do a cost estimation and submit it to the finance ministry. We remain hopeful that the finance ministry will support us, and we plan to maintain the road in the next financial year, if not in the current financial year.”
Until the funding is secured, commuters and industrialists say they will have to continue to bear the cost of travelling on the damaged road.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
