Phurpa Lhamo | Wangdue

Athang gewog and Wangduephodrang dzongkhag would share the cost of constructing a bailey bridge in Athang.

This was decided during the recent dzongkhag tshogdu (DT) where Athang gup Khandu Dorji submitted that there was a need of a bailey bridge instead of a log bridge in Jangcheyna.

He also said raised the issue during the eighth DT session.

According to the gup, multiple surveys were already completed for the bridge construction. “The plan has to be executed on the ground.”

He said small vehicles are plying over the log bridge, which he said was risky during the monsoon.

Wangduephodrang dzongkhag planning officer Jigme Dorji suggested that the dzongkhag and gewog share the cost of the construction of about Nu 6 million (M) for the bailey bridge.

With the drawing and designing of the bridge complete, an estimate of the bridge construction is being made today.

Gup Khandu Dorji said gewog was also expecting to receive certain bridge parts from the Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project.

He said that the gewog and Member of Parliament Kinley Wangchuk had already requested the project authority for bridge parts, which was lying idle near the project site.

“The bridge is going to benefit both Lawa Lamga and Lomtshokha chiwogs especially when people need to travel for health purposes,” he said. The two chiwogs have more than 60 households.

Gup Khandu Dorji said the gewog has allocated Nu 2.5M for the reconstruction of the bridge. “The additional budget is expected from the dzongkhag.”

He also said the gewog spends about Nu 300,000 annually to renovate the log bridge, which is often washed off by Harachhu in the monsoon.

Edited by Tashi Dema