Nahi-Chamgang highway proposed will reduce inter-district distance by half

DT: Local leaders of Wangdue unanimously voted to propose a highway to connect Nahi gewog in Wangdue and Chamgang in Thimphu, yesterday at the ninth dzogkhag tshogdu (DT).

The DT decided to propose the highway’s construction at the upcoming parliament session and also to the works and human settlement ministry.

Nahi gup Karpo Dorji raised the issue saying that it was a request from the people.

The road, Karpo Dorji said, after completion, could serve as another highway between Thimphu and Wangdue.  It would also cut down the 70-km distance between the two districts by almost half.

He said the gewog officials, along with the former dzongda, visited the site and found that the distance between Nahi gewog and Chamgang was about 10-12km.  Nahi is already connected with an 11.2km farm road from the Wangdue-Tsirang highway near Wangdue bridge, and Chamgang with about five km road from Semtokha.

The highway would not only benefit Nahi gewog, but Wangdue and Punakha districts, and also help six eastern and three southern districts.

Sephu gup Rinchen Penjore backed the proposal and said, if constructed, the road could serve as a second highway between Thimphu and Wangdue.

“With the distance shortened, Wangdue and Punakha people working in Thimphu could go in the morning and return in the evening,” he said.

The gups said it was also the government’s policy to reduce travelling distance, like that of Phuentsholing-Thimphu highway.

Gup Karpo Dorji said, since Nahi gewog was already connected to a better farm road, it would not be a huge cost on the government to construct the highway.

Meanwhile, no parliament representatives of Wangdue were present at the first day of the DT.

By Dawa Gyelmo, Wangdue