Residents of both Drepoong and Kilikhar in Monggar are still waiting for the blacktopping of a 12-kilometre farm road that connects Drepoong Gewog with Monggar Gewog. Karma Lhamo, the Member of Parliament of Monggar constituency pledged to blacktop the farm road during the bye-election campaign last year.
The farm road was constructed about 15 years ago. The residents are hopeful that the farm road will be blacktopped soon.
The blacktopping of the farm road would benefit around 80 households of Kilikhar in Monggar and the residents of Drepoong Gewog. Dozens of vehicles ply on this route every day.
“During the bye-election, the MP promised to blacktop the farm road from Kilikhar in Mongar till Laptsa in Drepoong Gewog. We are still hoping to get the road blacktopped. The pandemic is making things challenging for the world but we are still hoping to get the road blacktopped before the current government ends its term,” said Sonam Zangpo.
“It takes about three hours to reach Monggar via Gyalpoizhing. So, the public would be benefitted if the farm road that connects Drepoong and Kilikhar gets blacktopped. We cast our vote to the candidate of the ruling government since she pledged to blacktop the farm road,” said Sangay Wangmo.
“It takes a longer time to reach Monggar when we travel via Gyalpoizhing. If we have a blacktopped road from Kilikhar, it would not only benefit us but also the people of Kengkhar and Thangrong Gewogs. Whether we have luggage or not, a taxi charges Nu 500 from each passenger when we travel via Gyalpoizhing. But when we travel from Kilikhar, a taxi charges just Nu 300 from each passenger,” said Dechen Wangmo.
The Member of Parliament of Monggar constituency Karma Lhamo said that works to blacktop the road is expected to begin by the end of this year. She added that the survey to blacktop the road was also completed.
The department of roads will execute the blacktopping work. The chief engineer, Kinzang Dorji, from the Regional DoR Office in Monggar said the office is awaiting a budget from the ministry to process the tender work. He said that the office has already submitted a proposal to the ministry last year.
The blacktopping of farm road is expected to cost about Nu 80 M.
Sonam Tshering, Monggar
