YK Poudel

Traveling through Bhutan’s southern borders with India has become increasingly difficult, with issues ranging from steep toll fees for heavy vehicles to technical glitches with the FAS TAG system and curfews in border areas.

At the Lhamoizingkha border gate, travelers are barred from entering after 6 pm due to its designation as a biological corridor and protected area.

These challenges were highlighted during a recent National Assembly session when Lamdra Wangdi, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nganglam, raised concerns with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MoFAET) regarding both short- and long-term plans to address these issues.

“Travellers are forced to pay between Nu 4,000 and 5,000, which makes it inconvenient for them,” he said, calling for stronger discussions and negotiations between the two governments to assist the travelers.

In response, MoFAET minister DN Dhungyel, acknowledged the difficulties faced by travellers and said that the government is actively engaged in discussions with relevant Indian agencies to find solutions.

Lyonpo highlighted that the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi has proposed a meeting with India’s National Highway Authority (NHAI) to address these pressing issues.

“According to the NHAI system, except for vehicles with Indian registration numbers, all others are not eligible for the FAS TAG system, an online system for electronically paying tolls,” he said. “To avail the FAS TAG system, drivers must have an Indian SIM card, an Indian bank account, and an Indian citizenship identity card.”

The government has proposed expanding the FAS TAG system to include all Bhutanese vehicles using their registration numbers. “The government will provide the Bhutanese vehicle registration numbers to the Indian government to make the service delivery smoother,” Lyonpo said.

He said that the proposal has been well-received by the Indian government and is awaiting formal approval.

Lyonpo outlined ongoing infrastructure development aimed at improving southern border connectivity.

A feasibility study is underway, supported by the World Bank, for the highway expansion between Phuentsholing and Lhamoizingkha, as well as between Lhamoizingkha and Sarpang.

Additionally, the highway connecting Nganglam to Dewathang is under construction by Project DANTAK and is expected to be completed by the end of the 13th Plan.

These measures, once implemented, are expected to ease travel along Bhutan’s southern borders and improve connectivity with India, benefiting both travelers and businesses in the region.