Travelling along the Amochhu in Phuentshogling is becoming increasingly nightmarish for travellers. Given the pathetic condition, the road has been troubling visitors as well as the locals for a long time now.
All types of vehicles travel along the AmoChhu road in Phuentshogling but with many difficulties. The road, today, is filled with gigantic potholes and puddles causing numerous inconveniences to all commuters.
The poor condition of the road leading to the Toorsa area is leaving many drivers in a tight spot as they have to avoid large potholes and puddles now and then. One will encounter a pothole after every few seconds.
“I run a dairy farm and I have to constantly use this route to sell dairy products and buy cattle feed. The road is in very bad condition. And it becomes very challenging when it rains. The river swells and we cannot easily cross the road,” said Guru Drukpa, a resident of Phuentshogling.
“It becomes very difficult while travelling along this road especially when we have loads to carry and it is raining. Likewise, it is very difficult to travel in the night hours as the course of the road keeps on changing. At times we are lost and don’t know where to go,” said Chandra Bdr Rai.
“The workforce management centre for foreign workers is about 6 kilometres from here. And we the members of the taxi association have volunteered to help provide transport services for the foreign workers,” said Nima Dorji. “But given the bad road condition, most of the small vehicles refuse to ply over this road. Our vehicles constantly get hit from below.”
But the condition of the road is expected to improve soon as the Department of Roads is planning to start the base course work for the road soon.
“The main challenge we face is the incessant rainfall and the heavy vehicles plying by the road with heavy loads. Despite doing timely maintenance work, the road is always damaged due to the reasons mentioned above,” said the DoR’s Chief Engineer, Karma Dorji. “However, we are planning to start the remaining base course works by this month. Likewise, we will also start with the blacktopping works by November.”
For now, works to maintain the 7-kilometre stretch from Toorsa to AmoChhu have been handed over to two contractors. Besides connecting a few gewogs of the district, the road connects Phuentshogling with Samtse district.
Passang Dorji, Phuentshogling
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
