𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐦𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐚 𝐆𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐠 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬

…𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈-𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒅𝒖𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒚𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒔

By Kezang Choden

Residents of Tongmijangsa Gewog in Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag have long awaited the promised blacktop for their Gewog Connectivity (GC) Road, first opened in 2001. Despite being one of the oldest roads in the region, it has remained unpaved due to delays associated with the Kholongchhu Project. This road is essential for connecting remote communities and facilitating the transportation of goods and services, yet it has faced numerous challenges over the years.

During the summer months, the roads become excessively muddy, making transportation a daily struggle. In the winter, they transform into dusty thoroughfares, exacerbating respiratory issues and creating hazardous driving conditions.

Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) allocated a substantial budget of 108 million for the GC roads in the region. The entire project, including the widening and drainage of these roads, was entrusted to the dzongkhag. Despite initial progress, all work on the GC roads came to an abrupt halt last year due to issues between dzongkhag authorities and the contractor. As a result, the project, which had seen 65 million of the budget already expended, remains incomplete.

The Planning Officer of Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag Administration stated, “The up-gradation of Tongmijangsa GC road, which commenced in January 2001 to widen and blacktop the road, has encountered significant delays primarily due to payment issues with the contractor. The project, funded by Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited (KHEL) with a total budget of 108 million, has expenditures amounting to 65 million following an arbitration award.”

The project does not have exact completion dates as they have just concluded arbitration. They are working towards resuming work at the earliest possible. They indicated that the maximum contract period could span 7-8 months. The delay reportedly stems from difficulties in making timely payments to the contractor, leading to a cessation of work.

Nor-zang Construction Private Limited has stated that they typically engage in deposited work only. Despite the work being monitored by the dzongkhag, construction came to a halt due to delayed payments. According to the Transmission Periods, if payments are not received within 84 days, they have the right to stop work. However, they did not receive their payment for 6 to 7 months. The contractor said, “We issued three warning letters to the dzongkhag, but the process to secure arbitration took a prolonged period. The dzongkhag is currently unable to fulfill or pay the amount as per the arbitration award. If the dzongkhag prefers me to continue the work, we will be able to resume after this summer season.”

“All the necessary work is almost done, with only the blacktopping of GC roads remaining. Maybe the tender will be given to other contractors, or they might continue with us. I am not sure,” he said.
Ugyen Dorji, the gup of Tongmijangsa Gewog, highlighted that the primary challenge faced by residents is the lack of blacktopping on the GC roads. Despite being one of the oldest roads in the gewog, it remains unfinished. Residents have continuously complained about the condition of the GC roads, expressing frustration over the situation. Ugyen pointed out that the residents ultimately suffer due to the absence of a good mode of transportation. His main concern is the road’s condition during the summer season, which aggravates the issue and leads to significant vehicle maintenance expenses. His main concern is the road’s condition during emergency situations, as unfavorable road conditions might lead to worsening circumstances. Dorji said, “The community has now been waiting for almost 12 years for the blacktopping of their GC roads, hoping for a resolution soon.”

Sangay Tempa, a resident of Tongmijangsa Gewog, expressed concerns over the condition of his home, which is situated near the road. During the summer, the area becomes muddy, while in the winter, it turns dusty. Tempa said, “This seasonal issue has caused our clothes to become extremely dirty when washed and dried outside. Additionally, maintaining cleanliness has become a challenge, leading to frequent illnesses among the family members.”
“During emergencies without a personal vehicle, I must rely on hiring cars, which often charge exorbitant fees because of road conditions,” Tempa added.

Pema Yuden, another resident, reported that many villagers still face water shortages due to road maintenance machinery. She stated that all the residents are unhappy with the current situation. Yuden emphasized that villagers experience significant difficulty traveling through mud during the summer season, and frequent landslides occur during heavy rains. “The lack of a proper drainage system exacerbates the problem, causing considerable hardship for residents living below the roads, as they have to deal with water runoff from the roads,” Yuden shared.