𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

…𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 343 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒏 2024, 70% 𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔; 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒚 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍

By Lhendup Wangmo

A total of 343 roadblocks have been reported across different types of highways in the financial year 2023-2024. These incidents are most common along Primary National Highways (PNH), which account for 70.55 percent of the total roadblocks, while Secondary National Highways (SNH) record 28.28 percent and Dzongkhag Roads (DR) only 1.17 percent. These road types cover a total length of 2,641.55 kilometers. The majority of these disruptions are caused by landslides and heavy rainfall, especially during the monsoon season.

Sarpang, one of the nine regional offices (ROs), reported the highest number of roadblocks, totaling 113 incidents, which account for 32.94 percent of the total. Samdrup Jongkhar followed with 66 roadblocks (19.24 percent), and Tingtibi with 56 roadblocks (16.33 percent). This suggests that the southern regions, particularly Sarpang and Samdrup Jongkhar, are more susceptible to roadblocks due to challenging geographical factors and unpredictable weather conditions. Thimphu, on the other hand, had the fewest roadblocks, with only 12, all occurring along the Primary National Highway.

Julendra Katel, an engineer with the Department of Surface Transport (DoST) in Samdrup Jongkhar, explained that heavy rainfall during the monsoon is a primary cause of roadblocks in the southern regions. “In summer, we face frequent roadblocks and landslides, especially in areas like Hook. We immediately deploy machinery to clear the roads or, in some cases, provide a bypass route for travelers to ensure smooth passage,” he said. Katel also pointed out that the department has already submitted a report to headquarters, securing a budget for road maintenance. “In the winter, we focus on repairing roads damaged during the summer months,” he added. “Geographical conditions vary across the region. Some stretches are rocky and less likely to fail during the monsoon, while others consist of debris and soil, making them more prone to landslides.”

In terms of roadblock severity, minor incidents were more common than major ones. Of the total roadblocks, 287 were minor, representing 83.66 percent, while 56 were major (16.34 percent). Minor roadblocks are typically cleared within 24 hours, whereas major disruptions require longer clearance times and more resources. Sarpang recorded the highest number of both minor and major roadblocks, reinforcing the region’s vulnerability to disruptions.

Prakash Sharma, Executive Engineer for Maintenance at DoST in Sarpang, discussed the challenges of completing road repairs before the winter season. “We have to finish the maintenance work by winter, but last year the monsoon started late, which has affected our schedule,” Sharma explained. “Although we experienced a slight delay this winter due to the late monsoon, our team is now fully mobilized and working diligently. We are aiming to complete all necessary work in time for the summer season, ensuring smoother travel. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we push forward with our efforts.”

Sharma further highlighted how the delayed monsoon season has affected the timeline for repairs. “The vegetation and geographic factors are favorable, but we never know when the monsoon will hit. It often occurs in unexpected places, causing roadblocks that slow progress. While we try to clear these roadblocks as quickly as possible, some areas still experience bypass issues.” He noted that the late monsoon has significantly disrupted the usual work schedule.

“We typically begin work in January during the dry season, so delays are unusual for us,” Sharma said. “However, this year’s late monsoon has pushed back our timeline.” Though locations like Aie Slip and Khagochen have been stabilized, Boxcut remains a challenging site. DoST has developed a detailed project for an alternative road alignment to bypass this chronic block, with construction scheduled to begin this year.

The highest number of roadblocks occurred during the monsoon months of July and August, coinciding with landslides and flash floods, which are known to be frequent in those months. June also saw a notable increase in roadblock incidents. Landslides were the primary cause of these disruptions, accounting for 65.01 percent of all incidents, followed by debris flow (16.62 percent), flash floods (8.16 percent), and rockfall, snowfall, and subsidence making up smaller portions.

Regarding the time required to clear roadblocks, there is significant regional variation. On average, major roadblocks took 49.94 hours to clear, while minor roadblocks were resolved in about 4.81 hours. Sarpang had the quickest clearance times for minor roadblocks, with an average of just 4.23 hours. In contrast, Phuentsholing experienced the longest average clearance time for major roadblocks at 59.70 hours. These variations are largely due to differing terrains, available resources, and the severity of the disruptions.

The data reveals key trends across the country, with the southern regions, particularly Sarpang and Samdrup Jongkhar, experiencing the most roadblocks during the monsoon season. This highlights the vulnerability of these areas to natural events such as landslides, debris flow, and flash floods. The report also highlights the importance of addressing these challenges with targeted mitigation strategies, including landslide prevention, improved drainage systems, and reinforced infrastructure.

In response to these issues, DoST has partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on slope stabilization projects to reduce the impact of climate-related hazards on Bhutan’s road network. These efforts have led to completed projects like the rockfall countermeasure at Tekizampa on the Wangdue-Trongsa Highway, as well as bio-engineering solutions along the Wangdue-Chuserby and Phuentsholing-Samtse highways. These measures aim to enhance the resilience of Bhutan’s road infrastructure in the face of unpredictable weather.

Experts agree that further improvement of drainage systems, reinforcement of slopes, and the use of advanced geotechnical monitoring techniques are critical to reducing roadblock incidents, particularly in regions like Sarpang. Additionally, prioritizing seasonal planning and allocating resources in advance of the monsoon season can help ensure quicker clearance times, especially in regions like Phuentsholing, which have experienced prolonged delays.

Public awareness also plays a crucial role in managing roadblock disruptions. Timely communication about potential disruptions, especially during the rainy season, will help travelers plan their routes and avoid congestion. The government should continue investing in long-term infrastructure improvements, such as reinforcing vulnerable road sections and creating alternative routes, to mitigate future disruptions.

While most roadblock incidents are manageable, the increasing frequency of disruptions, particularly in vulnerable areas, highlights the urgent need for both immediate action and long-term infrastructure improvements. Addressing seasonal risks, strengthening road resilience, and enhancing response times are essential to ensuring a reliable and safer road network for the future.