Lives of the residents of Orong Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar have become more comfortable with better road connectivity. After completing two culvert bridges, their roads can now be used throughout the year. Until now, they remained cut off from the rest of the places for months, especially during the monsoon. Although they were connected with a farm road about a decade ago, they couldn’t use it completely without a motorable bridge.
It is the onset of monsoon which means it is usually time for the residents of Thungshing and Mandar villages in Orong Gewog to construct temporary bridges over the Khasharong and Gamtshala rivers.
But not this time. They now have culvert bridges over the rivers.
Villagers say heavy rain would often cause the rivers to swell, making it impossible for vehicles and pedestrians to cross and the road. They would remain cut off for upto 8 months.
Now, with the culvert bridges, villagers are expecting better connectivity.
“We made a bridge that can be used by vehicles but it was washed by the stream within a year. Now, the government has provided us with this bridge for which we are very grateful,” said Singay Norbu, a resident.
“It is benefiting us a lot. It not only helps Jangchhubling chiwog but benefits Rimung chiwog as well. The bridge has made it easier for students to go to school as well,” said Dorji Norbu, another resident.
Yongba who is also a resident said “Without a bridge, we faced many challenges. Students were unable to go to school, and we faced difficulties in visiting hospital. Now, this bridge has solved the problems. We constructed temporary wooden bridge also which couldn’t last long.”
These culvert bridges will benefit about 200 households of Jangchhubling and Rimung Chiwog in Orong Gewog.
The bridges will make it easier for the villagers to transport agricultural and livestock products to the market.
The Orong Gewog Administration spent about Nu 2 M to construct the bridges.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
