The local leaders of Dagana are not happy that the 42-kilometre road from Dagapela to Daga Dzong has been left out during the preliminary survey for the road widening works of the Soonkosh–Dagapela highway.
The issue was also discussed during the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu (DT).
The DT unanimously decided to write to the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement (MoWHS) to consider the road widening till the Daga Dzong. They said Dagapela is only a town but Daga Dzong is the main administrative location. They even pointed out that the road is narrow in that area.
“We have to make clear about the location of the dzongkhag headquarter and the dzong. We should ask ourselves if it is in Dagapela or Daga dzong. Due to such poor infrastructure, there are limited socio-economic development activities,” Phurba, the Tseza Gup, said.
“Road is very important. To improve living standard, boost the economy in rural areas and attract tourists, we need better roads. Therefore on behalf of all the local leaders, the house will write to relevant stakeholders to include the remaining 42-kilometre stretch in the current widening plan,” Lhawang Dorji, the DT Chairperson, said.
The Department of Roads (DoR) conducted the preliminary survey for widening works of 44-kilometre Soonkosh–Dagapela highway. A representative from the DoR clarified that the survey is done according to the 12th five-year-plan.
“The 44-kilometre road widening work plan till the Dagapela is according to 12th five-year plan and we did not get any further directives. However in one of the meetings in Gelegphu we discussed it. We actually came to know that the plan was to widen the whole stretch of 86-kilometre but it was approved only up to Dagapela. The only solution is to propose it in the next plan,” Pema Choeda, the Executive Engineer of DoR, said.
Nu 100 M is allocated for road widening works and the detailed survey was done recently.
Namgay Wangchuk
