After prompting much debate, the recent parliament session decided to go ahead with the construction of the Shingkhar-Gorgan highway.
The construction of the road was shelved although it was passed by the first parliament. However, it was again highlighted during the third Session of the second Parliament.
Weighing the advantages, most of the members supported the move, and the House decided to go ahead with the construction.
Once complete, the road will cut short the distance by a day. Currently it takes two days to reach Thimphu from Lhuentse.
The road will reduce the travel distance between Lhuentse to Ura in Bumthang by over 100 kilometres. The current distance between Lhuentse to Ura in Bumthang is 207 kilometres.
The bypass road is also expected to improve the overall economic situation of Lhuentse Dzongkhag.
|
|
|---|
The government has already spent Nu.55mn to construct over 13 kilometre of the bypass road.
The road has currently reached Pelphu Gonpa under Maedtsho Gewog. Another 33km of the road needs to be constructed to connect Gorgan in Lhuentse with Shingkhar in Bumthang.
The total cost of the bypass road is projected at Nu.585mn.
However, the road will pass through the core Thrumshingla National Park. Environmentalists are concerned as the Park has a rich bio-diversity consisting of rare and endangered species of plants and animals and also fresh watersheds.
The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) carried out bio-diversity research around Thrumshingla National Park in 2000 and 2001.
