It has almost been a decade since the construction of more than a four-kilometre bypass along the Tingtibi – Gongphu highway in Zhemgang was complete. But even today, the road is still in unpleasant condition. People are asking, “what could have gone wrong that it had to be delayed this far?”
If the construction works had gone as planned, the stretch of the road between Goling and Tingtibi could have been a well-paved road today. But it is even worse than farm roads. The road is filled with potholes that make commuting difficult, especially during summer.
“Despite repeated promises, they haven’t done anything so far. It has been almost a decade that we have been hoping for a better road,” said Karma Dorji, a resident of Goling.
Even if it is not for the bypass, travellers always have the old route via Yebilaptsa. However, they say the route is too steep and risky, especially for those ferrying goods.
“Recently, a truck ferrying cement had almost fallen off the cliff. So, it would be very convenient if the bypass is complete,” said another resident Tsendu Dorji.
After the formation cutting of the road was complete sometime in 2013, a contract was awarded for blacktopping of the road and installation of crash barrier in 2015. However, the Department of Road suspended the contract after the contractor breached the contract.
According to the Chief Engineer of the Department of Road in Tingtibi, CB Mongar, the contractor had breached the ‘fundamentals’ of the contract. After that, the road remained unattended till 2019.
“We put up a budget proposal to the government for the 2021 and 2022 financial years. However, the budget has not been approved,” the chief engineer added. The budget estimation for the pavement has come to more than Nu 80 M.
The bypass was constructed with Nu 68 M from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to ferry heavy machinery and materials for the Chamkharchu Hydro Power Project. It also reduces the distance of the highway by five kilometres. Today, the road is mostly used by truckers ferrying cement from Nganglam.
Meanwhile, the bypass will also benefit the eastern dzongkhags.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Chayku
