Radhi Gewog centre road in Trashigang is in dire need of maintenance. The road’s blacktop has worn out on several stretches owing to an increasing number of vehicles. With monsoon approaching, the residents are worried that the road’s condition would worsen. The road was blacktopped in 2016.
The eight-kilometre long Radhi Gewog centre road from Rangjung town till Radhi Gewog office has developed potholes along several stretches.
Some residents said it is the overflowing water from the drain that has damaged the road. Some others blamed that it is the increasing number of road users. People of Merak, Phongmey and some residents of Sakteng Gewogs use the road. People said they have to visit workshops frequently to maintain their vehicles because of the poor road condition.
“A lot of vehicles use this road and we face problem due to the bad road condition. The issue is with the drainage system along the road. It is not much of an issue during the winter but the road condition worsens during the rainy season. The most stretch of the road is filled with water. Although they have deployed workers, it has not helped much,” said Sonam Wangchuk, a resident of Phongmey Gewog.
“Now it is high time for maintenance. The road was blacktopped during the People’s Democratic Party’s tenure. The road didn’t see any maintenance after that. We can see a lot of potholes, and our vehicle gets damaged and even breakdown halfway through sometimes,” said Pema Tobgay, a resident of Radhi Gewog.
According to the Radhi Gewog Administration, the gewog has provided water pipes to address the water overflowing onto the road. But the office said the pipes do not help much during the monsoon and paddy cultivation season.
The gewog office now plans to maintain the road in the next financial year. The gewog administration has allocated Nu 3.5 M for road maintenance works.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
