Residents of Menchhari village in Samdrup Jongkhar’s Orong Gewog are expressing frustration over the prolonged inaccessibility of a bypass road to Suzung village. Despite the road’s completion over two years ago, about a four-kilometre stretch remains unused due to the absence of a motorable bridge over the Morongchhu. As a result, residents are forced to take a 30-kilometre detour to access essential services at the gewog centre, making their lives more difficult.
The road is now covered with thick bushes, making it difficult even for people to walk through, let alone vehicles.
The Orong Gewog Administration spent about Nu 3.5 M to construct this road to improve access to the gewog centre.
However, without a motorable bridge over Morongchhu, the road remains unused.
Residents say that it would be a waste of budget if the bridge is not built soon as the road’s condition keeps deteriorating every year.
“I think the road will be of no use if a motorable bridge is not constructed soon. In summer, the river gets big and it is difficult. So, we would be grateful if one motorable bridge is constructed,” said Sangay Tshering, a resident of Menchhari.
“Currently, we have to travel about 30 kilometres to reach the gewog centre. However, if we could use the bypass, it would only be around 12 kilometres. Having one bridge would make things convenient for us,” said Tenzin, another resident.
“We need a bridge. Right now, we have to travel all the way to Shigpashing to reach the gewog centre but using the bypass would make the distance much shorter.,” said Tshering Pedy, also a resident.
Orong Gup Pema Gyelpo said the gewog administration received 33-metre long bailey bridge old parts, which fell short by about 20 metres.
They were unable to proceed with the bridge construction due to directives against using old parts. The gup added that due to a limited budget, the bridge could not be constructed immediately.
However, the gewog administration is planning to propose the construction of a motorable bridge over Morongchhu in the next financial year.
In the meantime, the gewog administration is planning to make the road useable at least in winter.
Apart from benefiting 28 households in Menchhari village, a motorable bridge would benefit more than 500 households in Orong Gewog by reducing travel distance to the district administration by about 30 kilometres.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Sonam Pem
