The Department for Surface Transport will blacktop 21 Gewog Centre Roads or district roads in the current fiscal year. The infrastructure and transport minister said this during the Meet the Press session yesterday. According to the minister, more than Nu 860 M has been allocated for the improvement works.
The improvement work will include widening, drainage and pavement works among others.
The 21 identified roads are Lingmukha in Punakha, Laya in Gasa, Dangchu in Wangdue Phodrang, Chongshing in Pema Gatshel, Martshala in Samdrup Jongkhar, Shingkhar in Zhemgang,Nubi in Trongsa, Tang in Bumthang, Norgaygang in Samtse, Dungna in Chhukha, Rangjung-Phongmey in Trashigang, Bumdeling in Trashi Yangtse, Khoma in Lhuentse, Silambi in Monggar, Dotey in Paro, Sangbaykha in Haa, Naro in Thimphu, Tsirangtoed in Tsirang, Dorona in Dagana and Singye and Chudzom in Sarpang.
The minister said that works are expected to begin from December.
“Some districts roads received higher budget allocations than others, which required us to conduct detailed project report and tendering processes which took some time. However, the allocated budget has now been sent to the respective regional offices, and the tendering process is coming to an end. We expect to start the physical work from December this year.”
He added that although the government has allocated Nu 867 M for the work, it may not be sufficient and may cost Nu 1.278bn.
According to the prime minister, the current work will be monitored closely.
“With the commencement of this year’s work, we aim to provide improved and newly blacktopped roads with quality. To ensure that we will work as we planned and will be establishing a special team under prime minister’s office to monitor the work.”
The infrastructure and transport minister said they will complete improvement and blacktopping of roads during their tenure as pledged.
The present government pledged to resurface and maintain all Gewog Centre Roads with proper drainage facilities during the election campaign.
Pema Tshomo
Edited by Tshering Zam
