The Infrastructure and Transport Minister, during the recent Meet the Press session, said that the government will reconstruct the Kuri-Gongri bridge in two months. But this two-month duration seems to be testing the patience of the residents, particularly the business community in the east. They claim doing business has become costly after the Kuri-Gongri bridge collapsed twice this year. The bailey bridge connects Gyalpozhing in Monggar and Nganglam in Pema Gatshel.
In Monggar, the Gyalpozhing town looks quiet without much vehicle movement.
This is because the Gyalpozhing-Nganglam highway remains closed after the Bailey bridge over the Kuri- Gongri confluence collapsed for the second time in May this year.
Nganglam-Gyalpozhing highway is used by the residents and business owners of Monggar, Lhuentse, Trashigang and Trashi Yangtse.
Now, with the highway closed, vehicles transporting goods from Phuentshogling to Monggar have to travel almost 650 kilometres via the Samdrup Jongkhar-Trashigang highway. The business owners claim that they have to pay up to Nu 55,000 in transportation charges.
Before the bridge collapsed, vehicles had travel only 440 kilometres via the Gyalpozhing-Nganglam highway and pay only up to Nu 40,000 as transportation charge.
“The distance is shorter from Nganglam to Gyalpozhing. We also get vegetables at a cheaper rate. But, now, that the vehicles have to travel via Samdrup Jongkhar-Trashigang highway, bearing high transportation charges, the cost of vegetables also increases. And as a seller, we also need some profit. In the end, the consumers are affected,” said Sangay Pemo, a vegetable vendor.
“Before, it was convenient for the four eastern districts of Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Monggar and Lhuentse as it took only a-day-long journey when we had the bridge. But after the bridge collapsed, whether we go to Phuentshogling or Gelephu to restock our shops, we have to spend one night at Samdrup Jongkhar, which is costly,” said Cheki Gyeltshen, a businessman.
During the recent Meet The Press session, the Infrastructure and Transport Minister assured that a modular bridge with a carrying capacity of 50 metric tonnes will be constructed in two months for temporary use.
The minister also added that a concrete bridge will be constructed in another location for permanent use which will take a longer time to complete.
Sonam Darjay, Monggar
Edited by Phub Gyem
