Roads: Construction works of the Dagapela-Dalbari secondary national highway in Dagana are expected to resume by the end of this month after almost two years since it was terminated.

The contract for Package B has been awarded recently and tender documents are being evaluated to award the contract for Package C.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay during his visit to Tsendagang gewog on January 25 shared the status of the highway with the people.

“The government has already spent a huge amount while compensating the contractors whose works were terminated and we are also investing a huge amount to complete the work. It’s the shared responsibility of the government and the people to see whether funds are utilised properly,” Lyonchoen Tshering Tobgay said.

Lyonchoen said the government stopped the work for a good cause and he said that  corruption should not take root in the country.

The construction of the road was suspended and then later terminated on March 2015 after the lowest bidder was disqualified for failing to meet requirements.

A complaint was filed to both the works and human settlement ministry and Anti-Corruption Commission.

Following the complaint the commission asked the government to re-tender two of the three packages, Package B and C, following their investigation. The government on March 2015 terminated two of the three packages of the work totalling 80.58 kilometres.

Package B (Gesarling to Odalthang) was awarded to Tundi Construction, a private company from Nepal and Package C (Dagapela to Gesarling) was awarded to a joint venture between Gaseb Construction company and an Indian Company.

Package A awarded at the cost of Nu 355 million is from Dalbari to Odalthang, which is about 29 kilometres, is currently underway.

The two packages B and C are now divided into four packages.

The two packages of Package B were awarded to Druk Lhayul Construction with a construction period of 21 months.

The project manager Nidup Dorji said that they have asked the contractor of Package B to start work by the end of this month.

He said that officials are evaluating the tender for Package C and they are likely to tender it out by the end of February.

The secondary national highway is expected to enhance economic efficiency and competitiveness of the export industry by providing faster and more reliable freight movement.

Yeshey Dema | Dagana