Financial Year 2016 - 2017

The road history of Upper Kheng (UK) is in making. The most controversial GC road construction in the history of Department of Roads has been completed. Formation cutting of additional length of 1.24km to the newly proposed Gewog Centre is yet to complete with trace cutting already reached its termination point. Formation cutting of Bardo Gewog centre road (Therang - Khomshar GC road) will be completed within this financial year 2016 -2017. Trace cutting has already been terminated at the Gewog centre. 

 

Beautiful Khomshar before road construction

Survey work for the new road that will connect Khomshar under Zhemgang and Wama under Mongar Dzongkhag is underway with Lingmithang regional office undertaking the feasibility survey until Ngomila. The road construction activity is in 12th fifth year plan. The road will connect Central and Eastern Dzongkhag. 

Construction completion of GC roads has welcomed many farm roads under Shingkhar and Bardo Gewogs. Within 2015 -2016 financial year, two farm roads to Radhi and Thrisa village with 7.10 km and 9.17km respectively started its construction. Another two farm roads to Changkhar and Thajong is yet to start. 

Bardo Gewog's farm roads to Phulabi and Dratshang (Gonpa) awaits trace cutting of GC road to reach Gewog centre, since all takeoff points of the farm roads are from Gewog centre road. Factually, UK's development mode is on. 

 

Thrisa Farm road takeoff from GC road

With Chamkharchu Hydropower soon to start, roads condition and people's lives will be drastically improved. 

Nimshong Sub-division office is mandated for management and administration of road projects of UK. It has blacktopping and maintenance of Buli - Nimshong (30.2km) and Phumithang Dratshang road (3.35km), formation cutting of Shingkhar and Bardo GC roads works at hand. 

Budget proposal for the fiscal year 2016 - 2017 amounting to roughly Nu. 150.00 million was farsighted move. Among various proposed improvement activities of GC roads, budget for construction of only three Bailey bridges were approved with RGoB financing. 

Government has pledged and prioritized blacktopping of all Gewog centre roads within 2018. Within these two financial years period, Shingkhar GC and Bardo GC road till Bardo contemplate to complete. The total GC roads to blacktop lengthen to 59.06km after completion of Therang - Khomshar GC road. 

Therefore, as per the fiscal budget approval and work plan accordingly, I wish for timely release of the budget and timely completion of work. 

Therang - Shingkhar GC Road construction II

Starting from feasibility study to construction was divisive. Controversies hindered project by almost three months. Initially people discussed and minuted to change alignment diverting away from the mandate of having the GC road shortest possible. Initial construction by Dzongkhag administration diverted it mandates from the Guidelines and Specifications. The gradient was high enough for vehicles to ply. Department had to propose for the gradient correction work for 3.18km length and unluckily certain length of the road pass through private land. Repeated bulldozing through private land proved injustice. Yet, holistic discussions with land owner and it was a success.

The target for this fiscal year was 8.10 km. Total length of the road as per feasibility survey report was 11.32km. 3.18km was already trace cut by Dzongkhag but left with high gradient and department had to do correction work. Despite public unfriendly with the construction work, management risked to complete whole remaining length (8.1km) in this fiscal year.

Road is the top most priority of the government and people's want and need either. It is the crucial facility for the development to prosper. Impossibility is guaranteed to develop far flung villages and communities without road network.

Gradient correction work through pvt land. 

Everywhere the concern may be similar. People granted and sign for no objection agreement if road pass through their private land during the initial stage of feasibility studies. During construction stage, people aren't happy because they care their land since it is their livelihood. And this disagreement surfaced at construction of Shingkhar GC road. It marked as the most controversial road construction in the history of Department of Roads with frequent media reports in national level.

Despite hectic pressure from the public, construction management was a real challenge. It is best to act holistically considering laws of the land. No one is above law. The last resort for every disagreement is with laws and the system to decide. Decision taking is the toughest and pronouncing for advantage of larger interest is best. Never decide in view of self gain. Lead with laws and every problem will have strict solutions. Finally few individuals were apprehended.

Lyonpo Lekey's recent visit to his Gewog connected with road. 

People tense when the law act. After apprehension, apprehensive thought about project was ended. Construction progressed well and it is my glory to inform general public that the construction of Therang - Shingkhar GC road is completed. Yet additional length of 1.24km to the proposed new gewog centre is under construction. Hopefully by the beginning of fiscal year 2016 - 2017 it will be completed.

I applaud and thank my concern site engineer for the dedicated work and as a team we grow. 

Shingkhar GC Road

It is almost two years conceded with the construction of Therang –Shingkhar GC road with total length of 11.32km with Nu. 48 million fund from Government of India (GoI). It has become the most controversial road construction in the history of Department of Roads (DoR). Many unfolding history and important happenstance has to be told and learned. Yet within a year of my handling the project in the capacity as Project Engineer has worth progressed with few hundred meters left to reach termination point, the Gewog center.

There were countless hindrances and misgivings from the public. Nonetheless, I am contend to share the good news.  

It is not only the project management deserves the big applause but almost all relevant agencies from grassroots to the prime concern ministry.

Road construction reached Shingkhar village. Image date: 31/01/2016

Most probably by mid of March, construction will be completed and as per work plan, within this fiscal year, project shall be completed. It is indeed good news for the people of Upper Kheng and mostly for the people of Shingkhar gewog. The hardship days of walk shall be history hence. And the first ever road project in the community is yet again a history to remember.

Therang – Bardo – Khomshar GC road (27.1km) will take another year for completion and the progress until date  is good despite encountering tough geological terrain for both trace cutting and formation cutting.

Buli – Nimshong – Therang GC road (49.6km)  is under maintenance and road stretch from Nimshong until Therang has improved.

Budget for various constructions of permanent structures and bridges along aforementioned roads under Nimshong sub – division office has been proposed and submitted for fiscal year 2016 – 2017.

Thank you public for the support and giving me vast opportunity to learn numerous tactics in my professional life and I shall remain grateful ever. 

Shingkhar GC road Construction I

Road construction is the top most 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. With the fiscal policies and measures of the government for quality road construction and as being state for the road development network of the country, Department of Roads took over the construction of Gewog Connectivity (GC) roads from Dzongkhags (district).    

Therang - Shingkhar GC road alignment

DoR, Regional Office Tingtibi, took over the GC roads on 2^nd July 2013. During the time of handing taking, Shingkhar and Bardo GC roads of Upper Kheng were under construction under Zhemgang Dzongkhag. Lower Kheng is factually connected with well-developed road networks.

It was my pleasure to take over the projects of Upper Kheng in the capacity as fresh college passed out Project Engineer.

Upper Kheng is the most remote part of the nation. People had to walk days and nights to reach at Dakphey, current takeoff point of Upper Kheng roads. Many repeated pleas in the past regarding the road construction were made to the government but in vain.  The settlement are scattered and it would cost huge amount. At some point people were asked to resettle at the southern Bhutan considering the difficult geographical terrain.

With major fund from Government of India (GoI), road construction to UK was begun in early 2000. The road was only till Buli, Nangkor Gewog. Ministry of Agriculture constructed the road as farm road. It is said that people with joy prostrates considering the road as 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 happiness for the Khengpas of UK and the beginning of economic development with road connectivity.

In 2007, Dzongkhag started the road construction from Buli until Therang junction that benefits Bardo and Shingkhar Gewog. The road passes through Malaya, the highest peak between Shingkhar and Nangkor Gewog.

From Nimshong till Therang, DoR took up the road construction as deposit work. From Therang junction, road to Bardo and Shingkhar Gewog are separated. 11.34km road to Shingkhar gewog and 27.1km road to Khomshar is under construction that was started in 2013. 

That was the beginning to road history in UK and how controversial it became will be posted hereon soon.