The bypass has opened up business opportunities for people living nearby

Development: If the opening of the Nangar-Ura bypass affected business in Chamkhar town, it has opened up business opportunities for people living along the bypass road.

This is evident through the increasing number of shops mushrooming along the bypass. Some hotels are also being constructed. Number of stalls by the road are also catering to the travellers.

Shopkeepers along the bypass said their business is picking up. There were not many people visiting the shops until the road was blacktopped and opened for traffic. Then only a few villagers from nearby villages would come.

Today, many travellers stop to buy garments, snacks and vegetables. Shops along this road never remain dry even for a day fetching a substantial  amount of cash income everyday.

Kunzang, 31, who runs a shop along the bypass, said she started her shop in 2008. The business was not that good then as only handful of villagers came.

Today, Kunzang earns Nu 4,000 to 10,000 a day. “Many stop by to buy chugu and yathras,” she said, sitting in her puny stall.

From Tharpaling village, Kunzang moved to this place looking for business opportunities after the bypass came up. Tharpaling is a half-day walk from the road point.

Tshering Dorji, 30 also runs a shop above the road. He said the bypass has benefited people living nearby besides easing the transportation issues people faced before.

Earlier people had to walk from Nangar while going to Chumey. They had to trek back from Kikila on their way back home.

During the construction of the road Tshering lost some land. As compensation he was provided substitute land right above the bypass road where he today runs a shop. His shop deals in sale of imported fibres for weaving yathra from where the villagers drop their finished yathras. The villagers then buy fibres for weaving yathra from Tshering Dorji.

“The road has not only benefitted those who have set up shops but also helped nearby villagers sell their yathra products,” he said.

Villagers now sell yathras to him today. Choki Dolma, 24 from Terzoe village also owns a shop here and sells mobile recharge voucher cards, chugu and doma. Choki Dolma opened her shop in 2013. She is soon planning to start a hotel.

After the 32km Ura-Nangar bypass cut short the East-West highway by 30km,  travellers, save of the public transport buses, no longer drive from the old route via Chamkhar.

Nima Wangdi | Nangar