The Boxcut stretch in Jigmecholing Gewog along the Gelephu-Trongsa Highway has been posing constant risks to travellers every monsoon. People have to frequently remain stranded along this notorious stretch. The Department of Surface Transport spends over Nu 2 M annually for the upkeep and roadblock clearance works on the stretch. However, things might change as the department is working on constructing a bypass.
The most recent roadblock at the stretch occurred on Monday morning. The road was cleared after a few hours. Last month, a falling boulder at the site hit a tanker and killed the driver.
Officials said frequent landslides in the area occur as it is primarily made up of phyllite materials, which are soft rocks. An excavator is permanently stationed at the area to regularly clear the debris during blockages.
Commuters say instead of spending millions on emergency road clearing works, the department should work towards finding an alternative route to solve the problem for good.
The primary national highway connects Sarpang to the Northern East-West Highway.
“I feel it would not be too expensive for the government to construct a bypass rather than carrying out clearing works now and then by deploying one to two excavators. If an alternative route is constructed below the existing road, other than building a few bridges, we do not see any threat from landslides,” said Dorji, a commuter.
“It would be of immense benefit if the government could address the roadblock issue once and for all. The road is in bad shape and I do not know how I managed to reach here. The road is always in this condition,” said Lekzom, another commuter.
“We are having a tough time when a family member is sick and when there are delivery cases. Men can at least manage it when we get stranded here but for women, it is very difficult,” said Pasu Pati Maidali, also a commuter.
However, a solution is on the way. The chief engineer of the Department of Surface Transport’s regional office in Sarpang said his office has already awarded preparation works of a Detailed Project Report to construct a bypass from the Gelephu Tshachu area.
The DPR has been outsourced to a Bhutanese consultancy firm at a cost of almost Nu 14 M. The report is scheduled to be completed by January of next year.
“A large benefit would result from the construction of a bypass road because conducting a combined geophysical survey and geo investigation to improve the road at Boxcut would cost around Nu 800 to 900 M. However, Ossey and Katley stretches along the same highway are also not stable, which demands separate surveys. So, in the long run, constructing a bypass would be the most economical solution,” said Sonam Tashi, the chief engineer of the Department of Surface Transport.
The bypass is estimated to be around 25 kilometres long. This will shorten the highway by around five kilometres.
The department is expecting to carry out the bypass construction works in the 13th five-year plan.
Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
Edited by Kipchu
