Road
construction is the topmost priority for the government of now and then, and it
is the basic necessity for the socio-economic development to prosper. Considering
the vital importance of rapid economic development, the Department of Roads (DoR)
started improvement works on existing highways. The Department of Roads took over the construction of Gewog Connectivity (GC) roads from Dzongkhags (districts) in accordance with the government's fiscal policies and measures for quality road construction and the stated road development network of the country.
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| Therang-Shingkhar GC road alignment |
DoR,
Regional Office Tingtibi, took over the GC roads on 2nd July 2013. During
the handover, the Shingkhar and Bardo GC roads in Upper Kheng were
under construction under Zhemgang Dzongkhag. The road networks in Lower Kheng are well-developed.
It was my
pleasure to take over the projects of Upper Kheng in the capacity of a fresh
college graduate as a project engineer.
Upper Kheng is
the most remote part of the nation. People had to walk days and nights to reach Dakphey, the current takeoff point of the Upper Kheng roads. Many repeated pleas in
the past regarding the road construction were made to the government but in
vain. The settlements are scattered, and
it would cost a huge amount. At some point people were asked to resettle in
southern Bhutan, considering the difficult geographical terrain.
With major
funding from the Government of India (GoI), road construction to the UK was begun in early
2000. The road was only till Buli, Nangkor Gewog. The Ministry of Agriculture
constructed the road as a farm road. It is said that people with joy prostrate,
considering the road as a craving gift for the Khengpas. The tears of happiness
wet the eyes and relieved the hardship of mundane suffering to walk and walk.
That was the
welcoming moment of happiness for the Khengpas of the UK and the beginning of economic
development with road connectivity.
In 2007, Dzongkhag
started the road construction from Buli until the Therang junction that benefits
Bardo and Shingkhar Gewog. The road passes through Malaya, the highest peak
between Shingkhar and Nangkor Gewog.
From Nimshong
until Therang, DoR took up the road construction as deposit work. The roads to Bardo and Shingkhar Gewog diverge from Therang junction. The 11.34 km road to Shingkhar
Gewog and the 27.1 km road to Khomshar are under construction; the work started in 2013.
That marked the inception of road history in the UK, and I will discuss its subsequent controversy shortly.
