People of Sakteng Gewog in Trashigang want the whole stretch of their Gewog Centre road to be blacktopped. For now, blacktopping works are ongoing on more than half of the GC road. Residents are awaiting the remaining stretch to be blacktopped.
Blacktopping work on the 31-kilometre stretch from Dogorom to Sonadrang is ongoing.
The blacktopping work started in 2020 and was supposed to be completed by the end of last year. But the work got delayed.
The remaining 17.5-kilometre stretch from Sonadrang to Sakteng Gewog Centre is rough and bumpy. The gewog administration recently carried out road improvement work spending more than Nu 3 M.
But people are worried that the poor drainage might damage the road.
Today, it takes almost four hours to reach Sakteng from Rangjung town but once blacktopped, the travel time will be reduced by more than an hour.
“The road condition is bad and it incurs huge expenditure while maintaining our vehicle. We hope that the road will be blacktopped till Sakteng Gewog. For now, the blacktopping work is carried out till Sonadrang,” said Leki Tshering, a resident.
“It has been some years since the road connectivity reached our area. Blacktopping the road will benefit us,” said Pema Lethro, another resident.
The gewog administration said they plan to blacktop the remaining 17.5-kilometre stretch too.
However, the Gewog is waiting for the Gamrichhu project as the blacktop might get damaged if the project starts.
There are around 370 households in Sakteng Gewog.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Tshering Zam