Neten Dorji

Samrang — Samrang gewog in Samdrupjongkhar not only shares an open border with the Indian town in Assam but also the same name. Yet, it has taken ages to construct a formal checkpoint to connect these two neighbouring border towns.

The Royal Bhutan Police personnel man the current border crossing, which constitutes an ordinary iron gate flanked by a watchtower outpost and a few houses. In its place, an integrated checkpoint is what people of the four gewogs in Samdrupcholing dungkhag, Samdrupjongkhar, are asking for.

Samrang residents said that without an integrated check post, border crossing has become difficult, particularly with restrictions on entry and exit of motor vehicles. 

Business owners said that restrictions on vehicle movement has caused unnecessary hassle and increased transportation cost. 

Rinzin, a businessman, said the restriction on vehicle movement through the check post was enforced after Covid-19, which has affected small businesses in the four gewogs.

“Now, we have to route everything through the Samdrupjongkhar gate. This has significantly increased the distance and expenses for shopkeepers in the locality,” he said.

M.B Gurung, former gup said that due to the restrictions at the Samrang checkpoint, farmers are forced to take their cash crops for export via Samdrupjongkhar, which increases the cost of transportation. “If we have an official checkpoint here, the market is just a few kilometres away.”

The problem gets further compounded during medical emergencies when people have to take patients to Guwahati in Assam, resorting to hiring of Indian vehicles.

Many Bhutanese also park cars right outside the border as a measure for unforeseen emergencies.

Guwahati is around 67 kilometres away from Samrang.

Samrang Gup Jigme Singye Drukpa said that the establishment of an integrated check post, with relevant agencies such as immigration office, Bhutan Food and Drug Authority and Police under one roof, would facilitate movement of people and goods.

He said that the gewog do not have the authority to establish an immigration office and other infrastructure independently. “Such initiatives must be routed through the government. We have made this requests several times.”

A feasibility study on the check post has also been carried out and the report submitted to the government.

A resident of Samrang said that a formal route through Samrang will boost trade between the two countries and bolster the local economy. “There are many mining sites in Samrang and it will benefit the community.”

Speaking to Kuensel, an official from the Department of Law and Order said that a proposal on the establishment of a formal trade route in Samrang has been shared with the Government of India through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

“Initially, we had proposed a trade route from Barakun, opposite to Jomotshangkha, but we proposed the establishment of a permanent trade route from Samrang after finding it more feasible. It is currently under process,” said the official.