Tshering Namgyal | Mongar

It’s been six years now since the 3km farm road for Ambrangchu village in Minjey in Lhuentse has been connected to the road from Chusa, the village along gewog center road.

The gewog administration constructed the road in 2017 but did not start the construction of a bridge over Amdrangchu due to budget constraints.

Without a proper bridge, the villagers have been managing with temporary wooden bridge. In summer, this makeshift bridge is damaged by the swelling river.

The repeated construction of wooden bridge has been adding burden on the farmers, who are now requesting the government for a permanent motorable bridge.

The villagers have raised this issue to the local government leaders several times.

“We are in dire need of a bridge because we can’t use it in summer and are forced to go to gewog centre, which takes more than two hours,” said Tshering Gyelmo from Yongma, villager.

Amdrangchhu Zham Tshogpa, Thinley Gyatsho, said that a motorable bridge over Amdrangchu would instantly benefit around 18 households of remote Yongma, Phusa and Amdrangchu villages who remain cut off in summer.

The bridge could cut the distance by one hour to reach gewog centre and about two hours to reach Lhuentse dzongkhag administration.

“If the bridge comes through, we have a plan to connect Zham and Amdrangchhu with 3km farm road and this will benefit the entire chiwog,” Thinley Gyatsho said.

Lhuentse dzongkhag administration officials said dzongkhag and gewog administration has decided to construct an abutment and wing wall worth Nu 6.2 million on a 70-30 cost-sharing basis.

Lhuentse Dzongrab, Wangchen Norbu, said that the construction of the abutment and wing wall would be complete before June 2023.

However, both the dzongkhag and gewog administrations are relying on the Department of Roads for the iron bridge as committed by the human settlement minister.