The blacktopping work on the Merak Gewog Centre Road in Trashigang is currently underway. And the residents are already reaping the benefits with the completion of the laying of the granular sub-base. People say travel time has been reduced by almost half. The works to blacktop the road, including construction of drains, and laying base course started more than two years ago.
The works are carried out in two phases by different contractors.
Phase one includes blacktopping of the 19-kilometre road from Shetimi to the gewog office. For now, about five kilometres of the road have been blacktopped including the internal road.
The blacktopping work, which began in 2020, should have been complete by September of last year.
And for the remaining 17 kilometres, which is in the second phase, the blacktopping work has yet to begin.
The district administration provided a time extension for both phases till this month as the work was affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and unfavourable weather at the site.
“Earlier, when we travel along this road, we spent a lot on maintenance. But these days, we do not have to spend much,” said Sangay Wangchuk, a resident.
“In the past, it was difficult. When it rains, the road becomes marshy and we had to use stones and aggregates, and tree branches on those slippery areas. But after laying of base course and with the ongoing blacktopping work, it will become convenient,” said Khando Wangdi, another resident.
But some people are worried about the quality of the blacktopping in phase one.
“When it comes to the quality of the ongoing blacktopping work, we are not able to monitor as we lack expertise. But we have requested the district administration to send an engineer and officials to examine,” said Nima, Merak Gup.
According to the district administration, the contractor mixed different sizes of aggregate while blacktopping and did not use a compressor machine to clean the road.
The district administration has asked the contractor to do the necessary repairs.
The blacktopping of more than 36-kilometre Merak Gewog Centre Road costs over Nu 140 M.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Tshering Zam
