𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬

…𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑫𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒅𝒖𝒆 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈

By Sonam Choden

Infrastructure development plays a critical and multifaceted role in enhancing regional connectivity, fostering socio-economic growth, and improving access to essential public services, particularly in rural and underserved communities where isolation has historically limited development opportunities.

A proposed road project connecting Baloong in Lajab Gewog, Dagana Dzongkhag, to Taksha in Daga Gewog under Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag is currently being pursued to address long-standing and deeply rooted transportation challenges that have affected the livelihoods of residents in the region. A preliminary feasibility survey has already been conducted, and the final phase of the survey is scheduled to commence around May 17, under the supervision of the Dzongkhag survey team.

If successfully implemented, this road project is anticipated to bring widespread and tangible benefits to over 1,000 households across the Gewogs of Lajab, Tsangkha, and Khibisa. The primary advantages include more efficient and reliable access to healthcare services, commercial markets, and essential public amenities- factors that are vital for improving the overall quality of life in these rural communities.

Dhan Bdr Gurung, the Gup of Lajab Gewog, explained that, “Lajab Gewog’s economy is predominantly agrarian, with a majority of households engaged in the production of eggs, meat, and a range of vegetables.” While the gewog has demonstrated impressive agricultural productivity over the years, a major bottleneck remains the limited access to broader markets. At present, local farmers and vegetable vendors are compelled to use a lengthy and indirect transportation route via Sankosh in order to reach major commercial centers such as Thimphu. This not only escalates transportation expenses but also undermines the timeliness and efficiency of market participation.

According to Gup Gurung, “The proposed road is anticipated to address these challenges by providing a more direct route, thereby reducing travel distance by approximately 50 kilometers.” He further highlighted that this reduction in distance will significantly benefit both farmers and traders in the long term, helping them to increase income by minimizing spoilage and transportation costs.

Local vendors, particularly those transporting perishable goods such as vegetables, have frequently reported substantial losses caused by the inefficiencies of the current route. Due to long travel hours and high daytime temperatures, much of the produce begins to deteriorate before reaching its destination. Vendors report that nearly half of the vegetables transported for sale are rendered unsellable by the time they arrive at the Sankosh highway due to excessive heat exposure and time delays.

During the winter season, vendors transporting vegetables to Thimphu often arrive late in the evening due to the extended travel time, by which point temperatures have dropped significantly. As a result, the produce is frequently exposed to freezing conditions, leading to the formation of ice on the vegetables and causing damage that reduces their market quality and value. However, with the construction of the proposed road, travel time is expected to decrease substantially, allowing vendors to reach Thimphu earlier in the day. This improvement would facilitate quicker sales and help preserve the freshness of the produce, thereby minimizing losses and enhancing market efficiency. This situation contributes to considerable economic hardship for small-scale farmers and traders.

However, the construction of the new road linking Baloong and Taksha- which would shorten the current route by an estimated 50 kilometers- is expected to mitigate these issues. The decreased travel time and reduced exposure to heat are expected to enable vendors to deliver vegetables and other agricultural products to markets in Thimphu, Punakha, and Wangdue Phodrang in fresher condition, thereby preserving their quality and market value.

Budhi Man Gurung, a local vegetable vendor, shared his personal experience, stating that he transports produce to Thimphu on a weekly basis. “Despite commencing our journey as early as 4:00 a.m., a considerable portion of the vegetables is already damaged by the time we reach the Puna Tsangchhu area due to prolonged exposure to heat,” he said. According to Budhi Man, the current journey takes approximately six hours to complete, a duration that significantly compromises the freshness of perishable goods. He expressed optimism that the proposed road would drastically improve this situation. “With the development of the new road infrastructure, we expect to reach Taksha in approximately two hours from our location, which would reduce the total travel time to Thimphu by about four hours,” he explained. Such a substantial reduction in travel time is anticipated to allow vendors to deliver their produce in a more timely and efficient manner, ensuring better preservation of quality and increased returns in the marketplace.
In addition to economic benefits, Budhi Man Gurung also noted that the road project would provide crucial improvements in access to healthcare services. As a small and remote community, Lajab Gewog currently has limited healthcare infrastructure. In cases of serious illness or medical emergencies, patients are often referred to Tsirang Hospital, which is located at a significant distance. This can result in delayed medical intervention, which may have severe consequences. However, with the opening of the new road, residents would have an alternative route to Wangdue Hospital, which is comparatively closer and more accessible. This change is expected to facilitate timely medical care and improve overall health outcomes in the region.

The benefits of the proposed road are not limited to Lajab Gewog alone. In Daga Gewog, where the other end of the road is planned to connect, residents are also anticipating a wide range of improvements in transportation infrastructure. Kinga, the Gup of Daga Gewog, emphasized that the opening of the proposed road could lead to an overall enhancement of road conditions within the locality. Improved infrastructure would enable more efficient and reliable travel for all residents, not just those living directly along the new route. This could also stimulate increased movement of goods and services, contributing further to economic development and regional integration.

Similarly, Neuli Tshering, the Gup of Tsangkha Gewog, expressed strong support for the project and outlined the multiple ways in which the new road would benefit his community. He stated that improved infrastructure would not only ease access to markets but also enhance the delivery of essential services such as education and healthcare.
The proposed road connecting Baloong in Lajab Gewog to Taksha in Daga Gewog stands to be a transformative infrastructure development for the people of Dagana and Wangdue Phodrang. With more than 1,000 households expected to benefit directly, the project holds the potential to significantly improve access to markets, healthcare, and a range of other essential services. For farmers and vendors in particular, the reduction in travel time by up to four hours is projected to help minimize spoilage of produce, increase profits, and improve livelihoods. Local leaders and community members have expressed optimism and strong support for the project, viewing it as a long-overdue development that will address persistent transportation challenges and unlock new economic opportunities.

If the project is implemented as planned and executed efficiently, it could play a vital role in enhancing the overall well-being, resilience, and sustainability of rural communities in the region.