The first passenger bus between Dorokha, Samtse and Thimphu hit the roads yesterday. Four passengers boarded the bus from Dorokha.

Bumpa Transport is providing the bus service. The 19-seater coaster would ply the Samtse-Phuentsholing road from the Amochhu Bridge. A ticket costs Nu 385.

Base in-charge of the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) in Phuentsholing regional office, Sonam Tshering said the service would be provided on alternate days.

“If the number of passengers increased later, the frequency would be increased,” he said.

Sonam Tshering said people of Dorokha had written to the ministry a long time ago for this service. The head office had already approved, he added.

He said that the road between Dorokha and Phuentsholing has also now improved.

Dorokha drungkhag has three gewogs of Dorokha, Dumtey, and Denchukha with about 13,000 people.

Dorokha gup Padam Bahadur Rai said the transport facility would also benefit Tading gewog as it plies the Samtse-Phuentsholing highway crossing through the gewog.

“We have also decided to keep the timing for departure at 9am considering Dumtey and Denchukha gewogs,” he said.

He said people would take at least three hours to reach Bazaar Dara in Dorokha even by a bolero pick up. There would be enough passengers, he added.

This is the second bus service that started this year. Early in February this year, a passenger bus service between Dorokha and Samtse had started benefitting the people in the drungkhag.

Rajesh Rai  | Phuentsholing

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