People can expect a shorter route between Tangsibji and Draagteng Gewogs of Trongsa soon. The works to construct an 11-kilometre bypass will begin after this paddy transplantation season. The Dzongkhag Tshogdu also approved the new route in its recent sitting.
The bypass will be cleared from Chorcheng in lower Tangsibji and connect with the old national highway at lower Samchhoeling in Draagteng Gewog.
The overall project is estimated to cost Nu 126 M. Of this, a major chunk will be required for the construction of two bridges over Nikachhu and Drechhu along the route.
At the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu, Agriculture Minister Yeshey Penjor, who is also the Nubi Tangsibji’s Member of Parliament, said, for now around Nu 7 M has been arranged to kick-start the works.
With the money, the road’s formation cutting is expected to be complete.
“The road will not only benefit the three southern gewogs of Trongsa but also those of Zhemgang district. Moreover, the road between Kheng Khomshar and Silambi Gewog in Monggar is almost complete. So in future, this bypass has a scope to become a secondary national highway, which will help boost the economy,” Lyonpo said.
According to Tangsibji Gup Gyembo Dorji, initially, the bypass will be constructed as a farm road.
And if incomplete during the current Five Year Plan, the project will continue as a spill-over work in the next Plan.
The proposal received unanimous support from the local leaders.
Meanwhile, the road will also connect Kela with the rest of the district by a motorable road.
Rigayla, one of the residents of Kela village said that without a motorable route, visiting their gewog office incurs more expenditure and is time-consuming. “Travelling to the gewog office through the Trongsa town incurs extra cost. Getting a ride is another problem. But with the proposed route, we can visit the gewog and return home the same day, which is not possible today,” he said.
Likewise, another resident said that villagers have to wake up as early as four in the morning to visit their gewog office. “We have to travel to the gewog office in Tangsibji for meetings and other official matters. So today, we have to start our journey as early as four in the morning when it’s still dark,” said Tandin.
Thinley Dema, another resident claimed that villagers will be happy, even if the road is not in a good condition. “It is fine even if the road is not usable. We can at least have a road to walk on. We won’t have to travel through thick forests fearing wild animal attacks,” she added.
Besides, once the bypass is complete, those travelling between Zhemgang and the western districts will not have to travel via the Trongsa town. This will reduce the travel time significantly.
Passang, Trongsa
