East-bound passenger buses in Bumthang have to start their journeys in the wee hours of the morning. Drivers say this is so they can catch the road opening timing at Namling where widening works for the East-West highway is ongoing. This is a serious concern for both drivers and passengers due to risks of accidents and falling boulders.
At about 2:30 am at the Chamkhar bus station in Bumthang, the place is already bustling with people and cars. Drivers and passengers get ready to start their journey. Some have hardly had a good night’s sleep.
By 3 am, all the buses destined for the Eastern regions are already out of the bus station at Chamkhar. This has been going on for almost five months now and nothing has been done to address the inconvenience. Both the drivers and passengers say that this is really inconvenient and risky for them.
Wangdi Gyeltshen, a passenger said since the departure time is too early, there are chances the bus could leave the passengers behind if they fail to get up on time. He added, “As drivers don’t get enough sleep, it frightens us thinking the driver could doze off anytime while driving.”
Another passenger Kinzang Wangdi said, “We don’t get enough time to sleep. Moreover, drivers have to drive very long distances, so it’s very risky when they are deprived of sleep.”
“The road between Ura in Bumthang to Yongkola in Monggar is very bad. So we have to start early to reach the road opening point on time. The road widening work is very slow,” said a bus driver Passang Khandu Sherpa.
The situation at Nangar bus stop in Chhumig is similar. Buses had already left when BBS visited the place at 3:30 am. At least ten buses travelling to the east halt their nights in Bumthang every day, before continuing their journey in the morning. The RSTA fixed the departure timing at 4 am since April but drivers start an hour early to make it on time at the road opening point. Namling is almost 120 kilometers away from Chamkhar town and buses take almost six hours to reach the area.
Meanwhile, the Chief Engineer of the DoR Regional Office in Lingmethang said they were not aware of the inconveniences.
“The road closure and opening arrangement will continue for another two years,” said the Chief Engineer Kinzang Dorji.
“If we have to change the timings, we will have to hold a meeting with RSTA officials and police to sort this out and find the most convenient timing for the public,” he added.
Currently, the road opens for only one hour from 9 to 10 in the morning. If buses miss the morning opening period, they have to wait for three and half hours until the road opens for another hour at 1:30 pm.
RSTA office said the office recently talked to more than fifteen bus drivers and compiled their suggestions on the most convenient road opening timing. He said the authority wrote to DoR officials in Monggar to change the timing to 12 to 1 pm. The office said they are waiting for DoR’s response. The departure timing of buses is expected to be reinstated to 6 am.
If authorities don’t hasten measures to address the issue, people travelling to the east will have to continue travelling in the dark, putting their lives on the line.
Kipchu, Bumthang
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
