You are in for a bumpy ride if you are travelling along the 48-kolimetre Dewathang-Samdrupchholing highway in Samdrup Jongkhar. And it might take some time before the commuters along the highway can enjoy a smooth ride. The roads department office in Samdrup Jongkhar extended the road widening and improvement project deadline by three months.
The road improvement works was initially scheduled to be complete by December this year. But so far, only about 40 per cent of the works is complete.
Regular commuters describe the highway as one of the most damaged roads in the district.
Jigme Dorji, a resident of Samdrupchholing said commuters have to repair their vehicle every time they travel along the highway. “We depend on agriculture for a living and it is difficult for us when we have to spend huge amount on repairing vehicles.”
“As the road condition is bad it is difficult for the light vehicles to ply. Only boleros can use the road,” said Dawa another resident of Samdrupchholing.
Department of Roads office in Samdrup Jongkhar awarded the road widening, blacktopping and drainage construction works to four contractors in November, 2020.
According to the contractors, the works got delayed amid the pandemic. They said heavy rainfall in the area also affected the work progress.
Kinzang Wangchuk, the Chief engineer from the Department of Roads office in Samdrup Jongkhar said lockdown and COVID situation in Samdrup Jongkhar affected the works. “It is also difficult to get machine parts and labourers as we are in high-risk area. People are reluctant to come to work in high-risk area.”
Roads department is carrying out the road maintenance and improvement works at a cost of about Nu 376 M.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
