The widened 8.75kms road that connects Lhamoizingkha to the 80.5kms Lhamoizingkha-Dagapela road at Dalbari has benefited people of Karmaling and Nichula at large.
The residents of Karmaling and Nichula gewogs use the road to come to the drungkhag office and Lhamoizingkha town. This road had never seen formal maintenance in decades since it was opened.
The stretch, however, is only widened and base coursed only for 3kms from October 2017 to May 2018. It is claimed that it would be given priority of a highway as it connects Lhamoizingkha to Lhamoizingkha-Dagapela road and Manitar-Lhamoizingkha road.
A resident in Jigmethang village of Karmaling gewog, Damberi Tamang, whose house is located along the road, said the road had never seen any development activities until last year.
“The widening and base-course, although only for 3kms, has helped us,” she said.
Damberi Tamang said while she doesn’t understand why the widening and base course works have stopped for some time now, she feels it should continue and complete.
Another Karmaling resident, Passang Sherpa, said the widening works has smoothened the road and made it comfortable to ply.
He said the widening works had damaged a nearby natural irrigation system from which he cultivated paddy. “This year, my family did not cultivate.”
He said land poolings were also done and officials have said it would be replaced.
Department of Road’s chief engineer, CB Monger, said the requirement of other development works for the road has been put in the 12th Plan. “The works would begin when it is approved by the next government.”
He said that eight bridges would be constructed along the Dagapela-Lhamoizingkha highway.
Meanwhile, works for the 29kms stretch from Dalbari to Odalthang, towards Dagapela, has not yet resumed on a full scale.
The project manager, Kinzang Wangchuk, said the works have stopped since June because of monsoon. “It was stopped to ensure quality construction.”
He said all the remaining blacktop works would be complete in October and November this year.
Meanwhile, there are two other packages on the 80.5km highway construction, which is expected to complete in October this year.
Rajesh Rai | Lhamoizingkha