Development: For Dorji Lhamo, a farmer in Lauri gewog in Samdrupjongkhar, it took almost a day to decide if she should go to Jomotsangkha for shopping. The journey on foot took three days to and fro. But then, she had little choice.

Things have changed now. Road has come to Lauri, the remotest gewog in the dzongkhag. She can now go to Jomotsangkha anytime she wants.

“We’re thankful to the government past and present for giving us the road. It was a distant dream just a few years ago. Life has become easier by much today,” said Dorji Lhamo.

With the road have come economic opportunities. Already, there are six Bolero pickup trucks in the village. When villagers hitch a ride, drivers charge Nu 350 per head to drungkhag. A few shops have sprouted where there was none just a few years ago. It is now easier for the villagers to transport goods. They can do so in a day.

Kunzang Tenzin, another villager, said: “More than anything, the road has made it easier for the villagers to go to BHU in Serthi. We can call ambulance and the journey doesn’t take long.”

Gup Pema Dhendup said that the coming of the road has helped farmers sell their vegetables. Farmers now take more than 50 percent of their produce to the drungkhag or auction them in Samdrupjongkhar.

Yangchen C Rinzin |  Jomotsangkha