𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐔𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐠

…𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒔𝒆-𝒚𝒂𝒖𝒌𝒉𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒕 110 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈

By Kezang Choden

The blacktopping of the long-awaited Rangtse-Yaukha farm road in Gakiling Gewog, Haa Dzongkhag, began on June 6. The four-kilometre stretch is expected to be completed within this month. Once complete, the improved road will benefit 110 households—30 in Yaukha village, 70 in Rangtse, and 10 in Tanga village.

Residents say the project will ease transport challenges and improve access to markets, schools, and health services. The Gakiling Gewog Administration has identified road connectivity as a key priority in its effort to improve livelihoods.
The project is funded by the Government of India under the Small Development Project (SDP) Phase I, also known as the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP). According to Gup Wang Tshering, timely completion of this phase is important, as it will allow the gewog to move forward with Phase II without delay. The first phase, which has already begun, is being carried out with a budget of Nu. 11 million.

Gup Wang Tshering said the road development is expected to benefit both the gewog administration and local residents. He explained that the current condition of the road has posed challenges, particularly in terms of transportation and ongoing maintenance. With improved road quality, vehicle movement will become easier, reducing wear and tear and lowering transportation expenses.

“The road improvement will not only make it easier for us to travel but also reduce expenses for everyone,” said the Gup. “If we could carry out development works earlier, then the public could reap its benefits faster.”

He added that the road will likely encourage more residents to take up commercial farming. Poor road conditions have long hindered farmers from transporting their goods to market. The improved connectivity, he said, will address this constraint.

“We are hopeful that with better connectivity, more people will take up commercial farming. This will improve income levels and boost the local economy,” the Gup added.

The gewog administration is focused on ensuring that development works are completed efficiently so that residents can benefit as early as possible.

Passang Sherpa, a resident of Yaukha village, said that the blacktopping of the road will bring significant relief in transporting goods and reduce the need for frequent vehicle repairs. He shared that the rough and dusty road conditions in the past made transportation difficult and led to frequent damage to his vehicles, resulting in high maintenance costs.

“Now that the road is being blacktopped, I will be able to transport goods more smoothly and efficiently. I won’t have to repair my vehicles as often as before,” he said.

For villagers like Passang, who depend on small-scale trade and farming, better road conditions mean improved access to markets and essential services. The blacktopped road is expected to ease the movement of agricultural produce, daily essentials, and construction materials, which previously involved high transportation costs due to poor road conditions.

He also expressed hope that the improved road would encourage more development activities in the area, bringing long-term benefits to the community.

According to Gup Wang Tshering, the improved road in Gakiling Gewog is also expected to attract more tourists. Several sacred sites are located in different chiwogs of the gewog, and the road will improve access for both local and international visitors.

The Gup said the road could play a significant role in promoting spiritual and cultural tourism. In the past, poor road conditions made it difficult to reach many of these sacred sites, discouraging visits. With better access, he said, the area could see increased tourist footfall, bringing new economic opportunities for local residents.

“The road is not only a lifeline for villagers but also a gateway for tourism-related income generation,” the Gup said. He added that the sacred sites in Yaukha and Tanga hold strong potential to attract both domestic and international visitors, especially as interest in religious and spiritual tourism grows.

He also mentioned that the second phase of the project will focus on blacktopping another 10 kilometres of farm road. This will cover the chiwogs of Phutsena and Ngatse, and is expected to benefit around 90 households. The goal is to further improve connectivity and reduce transportation challenges, particularly for moving agricultural goods and facilitating general travel.

Farmers in the area are hopeful that improved road conditions will help reduce travel time, lower transport costs, and create new market opportunities for their produce.

Additionally, better access may encourage small businesses such as homestays, eateries, and local guides to thrive, creating alternative sources of income for residents. The gewog administration is optimistic that with continued support and effective implementation of infrastructure projects, the area will experience not only economic progress but also an improved quality of life.

Pem Dorji, a resident of Gakiling Gewog, shared his appreciation for the ongoing roadwork, noting that it will significantly ease the transportation of his goods to market. He explained that the road will not only benefit him but also many other farmers who rely on commercial farming for their livelihoods.

“For farmers like me, this road means we can now take our produce to the market more easily and at any time,” he said. “It used to be difficult, especially during the monsoon season when the old farm paths would become muddy and impassable.”

The road is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, lower transportation costs, and ensure more timely delivery of produce. Many farmers in Gakiling grow vegetables and other cash crops that require prompt delivery to fetch better prices. In the past, poor road conditions limited this possibility, often resulting in losses and reduced incomes.

With a better road in place, farmers now have the opportunity to expand their farming activities and reach new markets. Improved infrastructure is also expected to encourage youth to participate in agriculture by addressing one of the key challenges that previously discouraged commercial farming in the gewog.

The road is seen as an important contribution to rural economic development, providing better access not only to markets, but also to schools, health centers, and agricultural inputs.