A few years back, quite a number of vehicles used to travel through Zhemgang. But with the opening of the 16-kilometre Tingtibi – Wangdigang bypass road, vehicles have stopped coming to Zhemgang.
Earlier to go from Tingtibi to Wangdigang, motorists had to travel via Zhemgang. It was 56 kilometres. With the opening of the bypass road, the distance has been shortened by 40 kilometres. The bypass was a boon for the motorists but a loss for the residents of Zhemgang.
Our reporter, Pema Samdrup, says that Zhemgang town today looks deserted, with not many vehicles passing by.
“After the bypass road was opened, it is very difficult to get a vehicle. I have been waiting for two days,” says Lhamo.
“To Kheng Buli, a bus travels two to three times a week. To go to Zhemgang you have to go in a bus which comes after every two or three days. Before when the Trongsa and Bumthang bus travelled from here, it benefited everybody. People did not have to wait for vehicle. If one does not come the other turns up. But now it is very difficult,” says Yesheyla, a resident of Dakphel Village.
Travelling for the residents have become difficult as they have to now depend on the public transport bus, which travels 3 times in a week. Not just those, businessmen have also lost their customers affecting their business.
“When there was no bypass road, people who travel from here buy things from our shop when they stop to have lunch. Now that people travel from the bypass road, only the local residents are our customers,” says Bebi, a businesswoman.
The hoteliers are the most affected. “In the past people travelling from Trongsa, Bumthang and Gelephu used to have their lunch and stay at my hotel. Before, we earned between Nu. 15000 and Nu. 20,000 in a day. Now the maximum we earn in a day is five thousand,” said one of the hoteliers.
Our reporter says that it has also affected the small businesses in villages like Dakphel and Kihar. Before the bypass road was opened, the villagers living along the highway were seen selling their dairy products on the highway but this has also died away now.
