The residents of Orong Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar are frustrated by the delayed construction of an eight-kilometre bypass road meant to connect their community to Dewathang Gewog. The road construction began in January 2022 and was scheduled for completion last year. However, only four kilometres have been completed today, leaving the remaining stretch incomplete. Residents say that completing the road would reduce travel distance to the district administration by over 30 kilometres.
The construction of the farm road between Nyalang in Dewathang and Suzung in Orong Gewog, which began in 2022, raised hopes for easier access to essential services.
However, delays have left the road incomplete, forcing people to continue using the longer 62-kilometre route along the Samdrup Jongkhar-Trashigang highway.
This has prolonged travel times and prevented the community from benefitting fully from the new road.
“Travelling via the highway is expensive, but expenses would be less if the bypass road is completed. The government has already spent a huge amount on this, yet it remains incomplete,” said Cheni Dema, a resident of Orong Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“A huge amount has been spent on this project, and I don’t think it will be left unfinished. I doubt the gewog isn’t pushing for it, but gup and mangmi have assured us that it will be completed,“ said Sangay Rinzin, another resident of Orong Gewog.
“We need this road to be completed soon; I hope the government and the gewog will look into it and resume the work. Travelling the longer route to reach Shikpashing is time-consuming, and the incomplete work by the contractor has caused problems for us,“ said Kerpo, also a resident.
Meanwhile, Orong Gup Pema Gyelpo said the Gewog administration and the contractor had to resolve a court case after the contractor refused to continue work.
However, the case is now settled with the court ordering the contractor to pay Nu 1 M to the government.
The gup added that the gewog administration has requested six million ngultrum under the Small Development Project to complete the remaining road work within this financial year.
Kinley Wangchuk. Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Sonam Pem
