𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐨-𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐰𝐨𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬

…𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑵𝒖. 11 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒅

By Lhendup Wangmo

The blacktopping of the Danglo–Wooluna Chiwog Road, which began in April 2025 and is scheduled for completion by April 2026, is set to transform the lives of residents in the area. The upgraded road is expected to improve the transport of agricultural produce to nearby markets, increase income opportunities for local farmers, and provide the community with better access to Thimphu.

For years, residents of Danglo–Wooluna walked hours through slippery trails and muddy paths to reach the nearest road. During the monsoon, farmers carried sacks of vegetables on their backs, often losing half their produce before it reached the market. That struggle may soon change.

With the Nu. 11 million blacktopping of the Danglo–Wooluna Chiwog Road now underway, villagers see the project as more than just development work; it is a lifeline. Once completed, it will allow farmers to sell fresh produce on time, give students a smoother route to school, and make hospital visits in Thimphu less daunting.

Tandin Pema, the Gup of Mewang Gewog under Thimphu Dzongkhag, said the project will benefit Danglo–Wooluna Chiwog in every way. “Villagers here depend on both wetland and dryland farming, and there are also poultry farms in the upper areas. This road will basically benefit everyone,” he said. He added that the existing road is only a Granular Sub-Base road with no blacktop, making vehicle maintenance costly and travel difficult. “But now, with blacktopping underway, we will soon have a proper road that will benefit all residents. Altogether, around 120 households from both Danglo and Wooluna chiwogs will be connected,” he said.

Rinzin Mangmi of Mewang Gewog said, “It’s a very important project for us. For many years, people from Danglo and Wooluna have struggled to bring their farm produce to the market. During the rainy season, roads became muddy, and vehicles could not move. Once this road is blacktopped, it will completely change the way people live and work.”
Most people in the area depend on agriculture, growing vegetables, maize, and paddy, while some also keep poultry and cattle. Currently, residents spend more time and money transporting their produce. With the blacktopped road, they can take fresh vegetables directly to the market in Thimphu without damage or delay, resulting in better prices and less wastage.

The road will also make it easier for school children and patients. Previously, people had to walk long distances to reach transport, and during emergencies, travel was risky. Once the road is complete, access to schools, hospitals, and government offices will become much easier for everyone.

Tandin Wangyel, the Gewog Tshogpa, said the road had remained rough since 2014, but it has now been included in the 13th Five Year Plan for blacktopping. He added that the improvement will not only benefit farmers by easing the transport of agricultural produce but will also greatly help students who currently must walk about five kilometres to reach school, making their daily journey safer and more comfortable.

Tandin Dorji, a villager from Wooluna, said the road has remained rough and dusty for years, making it difficult for people to transport farm produce, especially during the monsoon season. He shared that farmers often faced challenges in taking vegetables and dairy products to the market due to slippery and damaged road sections. With the upcoming blacktopping, he said the community is hopeful that it will not only improve access to markets but also reduce transportation costs. “At present, taxi drivers charge around Nu. 400, and sometimes even ask for Nu. 600 because of the bad road condition,” he said. “Once the road is improved, we hope the fare will come down.” He added that the project will also benefit students who walk nearly five kilometres to school every day. “It will be safer and easier for them, especially during the rainy season,” he said.

Migma, a villager from Wooluna, said the community has long waited for the road improvement and is now actively contributing to the work. He shared that the budget allocated for the project was insufficient, but the contractor agreed to help by providing machinery. “We, the people of Wooluna and Thuega Goenpa, have also collected money to support the work,” he said, adding that their villages were not included in the initial government survey. “Both the government and the gewog administration have been helping us a lot, and we are very grateful for their support,” he added.

A parent, Sonam Choden, said the blacktopping of the road will be a great relief for families with school-going children. “Our children walk a long distance every day to reach school, and it becomes especially difficult during the monsoon when the road turns muddy and slippery. Sometimes they reach school with wet clothes and shoes, and on heavy rain days, we even worry about sending them at all.” She added that parents have long been concerned about the safety of their children, particularly the younger ones who walk alone in the early mornings. “Once the road is improved, it will make their journey safer and more comfortable. It will also bring peace of mind to parents like us who have been waiting many years to see this happen,” she said.