Phurpa Lhamo | Punakha

Riddled with potholes and always dusty, the road to the popular Chubbu Tshachu in Toedwang gewog in Punakha has become a nuisance to visitors and villagers of the gewog.

The 20km stretch serves as the only motorable route to about 39 households in Tsachuphu chiwog and the Tshachu visitors.

According to a resident of Tsachuphu chiwog, Phub Rinzin, commuters had to bear multiple damage to their vehicles to reach the Tshachu.

The road condition worsens during monsoon.

“So when people ask us to reach them to Khuruthang to sell their goods, we have to be ready with tools such as spade and pick axe.”

Most times, due to bad road condition, the famers are unable to sell their produce.

Commuters have increased with the increasing popularity of the Chubbu Tshachu.

Chubbu Tshachu receives visitors starting October.

Gyeltshen, 60, said that most visitors left their car at Samdingkha and hired a Bolero to go to the Tshachu.

Today, a one-way trip to the Tshachu from Samdingkha costs at least Nu 2,300.

While vehicle owners say that people complain about the high charge, the damage the vehicles suffer along the road must also be counted.

At the centre of all these problem seems to be “lack of budget”.

Gup Touchu said the budget was secured to start soiling work.

“We expect the cost to be Nu 150,000 per km of road. Work will begin from Keybelo, which is around 15km from the Tshachu. Remaining 5km work will be done by Chubbu Gewog as it falls under their gewog,” he added.

However, the work will start next year. The road was first paved between 2011 and 2012.

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