Road: The people of Tsendagang want to see a four kilometre stretch of road from the Dagana highway to the Tsendagang gewog centre blacktopped. They say that they have been using the rough road for more than two decades.

The Department of Roads (DoR) is currently evaluating bids to blacktop one and half kilometres of the gewog centre (GC) road.

“We will be blacktopping one and a half kilometres of the road since the remaining un-blacktopped portion falls under the Dagapela-Dalbari secondary national highway,” DoR’s deputy executive engineer, Pema Choeda said.

However, those who use the road want the entire four kilometre stretch blacktopped.

Businessman Hari Gurung said that the public is still hoping that their entire stretch will be blacktopped. He said that it does not make sense to blacktop only a portion of an already short road.

Another shopkeeper, who wished not be named, said that because of the increase in the number of people using the Tsendagang GC road, his shop, which is located along the road, is forever coated either in dust or mud. “When I first heard the news about the blacktopping of the GC road I was excited that I would not have to clean my shop like I did in the past years,” he said. “But I was disappointed to hear that only half of the road would be blacktopped,” he added.

Of the 14 gewogs under Dagana dzongkhag, the blacktopping fund for the gewogs of Khebisa, Larja and Nichula gewog have not been received yet.

DoR chief engineer for Sarpang, CB Chettri said that the blacktopping of Kana, Tashiding, Gozhi, Tsangkha, Tseza, Karmaling, Drujaygang and Tsangkha are under progress and will be completed before June 2017, while blacktopping of the Tsendagang GC is under evaluation.

“The Green Climate Funding is funding the blacktopping of Khebisa, Larja and Nichula and the estimated costs are also ready,” he said. “We are waiting for the funds.”

Yeshey Dema | Dagana