Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar

Commuting along the roads at Bar and Toed demkhong of Samdrupjongkhar thromde has become challenging as the road conditions are becoming worse, according to residents.

Roads in the demkhongs are most used in the town. Trucks ferrying gypsum for the State Mining Corporation Limited (SMCL) ply along the roads on a daily basis.

A resident, Ngedup, said that the road conditions are becoming worse every day because trucks ferrying gypsum damage it.

He said roads are riddled with potholes.




Another resident, Karma, said they come across the potholes whether they go to the hospital, dzong or to exchange liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). “ We would be grateful if the roads are repaired.”

He said the road condition damages their vehicles.

Residents said it is time authorities maintain the road.

They also said the road that leads to the SMCL office and the Nation Housing Development Corporation Limited’s (NHDCL) housing colony has become worse. “It would help if the authorities could maintain and blacktop the roads.”




Meanwhile, Samdrupjongkhar thrompon Thinley Namgay said the thromde administration had awarded the resurfacing of the road in Toed demkhong to a contractor. “The resurfacing project worth about Nu 11 Million is targeted to complete in August.”

He said since trucks ferrying gypsum for the SMCL are causing the road damage, SMCL was supposed to maintain the roads. “Thromde office had also submitted the design.”

According to the thrompon, they would discuss with the SMCL and request SMCL to provide them a deadline. “The thromde administration would impose daily fines if they fail to repair the road according to the deadline.”




SMCL officials claimed the company repaired the roads as and when required in the past and they would also carry out the maintenance works this time.

Officials also said the company could only fill up the potholes and not the maintenance works due to the pandemic. “We would not blacktop the roads in summer because the rain affects the quality.”

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