Commuters travelling along the Sergithang-Burichhu bypass road in Tsirang can expect a smooth ride very soon. The Tsirang Dzongkhag Administration started blacktopping the farm road in November last year. The road saves travel duration for three gewogs of Sergithang, Pungtenchhu and Tsirang Toed while travelling towards Thimphu.
The 9.4-kilometre road from Sergithang Gewog connects the Tsirang-Wangdue Phodrang highway in Burichhu. Laying of the granular sub-base and construction of drains were completed last year with funding support from the European Union.
Considering its benefits to the people, the Sergithang Gewog administration proposed the government for the road blacktopping last year.
“Currently, the road between Sergithang and Damphu is in bad shape. So, blacktopping the Burichhu-Sergithang road will benefit us immensely. Once blacktopped, the road will shorten the distance for us while travelling towards Wangdue Phodrang and Punakha,” said Yam Kumar Darjee, a resident of Sergithang Gewog.
“I run a grocery shop here in Sergithang and I have to travel to Damphu often to bring grocery items. But the road between Sergithang and Damphu is in very bad shape these days. Blacktopping Sergithang-Burichhu road will be an alternate route for us while travelling to Damphu,” said Barta Lachi Rai, another resident.
“Vegetables grow well in Tsirang and people from our gewog take their vegetables to Thimphu. Blacktopping the road will help farmers reach their farm produce to market easier,” said Bom Bdr. Rai.
So far, the construction company has completed clearing the drains, constructing walls and laying WMM or Wet Mix Macadam along the road. The WMM includes laying and spreading clean, crushed, and well-graded granular materials on a prepared Granular sub-base.
However, according to an official from the company, the blacktopping work is expected to begin only after the monsoon. The company will write to the Dzongkhag Administration requesting an extension of the contract duration amid the monsoon. The contract duration ended on Friday.
The road was first constructed as a farm road in 2016.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sonam Pem
