𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐡𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲

…𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

By Leki Chungdon

The Department of Surface Transport (DoST) team has begun dismantling Bailey bridge components to construct a temporary bridge over the Amochu River. The effort aims to restore road connectivity to Denchukha Gewog, which was cut off following the recent disaster.

According to officials, the temporary bridge will provide a crucial lifeline for the people of Denchukha, enabling vehicles to move in and out of the gewog after days of isolation. The disruption had severely affected the transportation of essential supplies and emergency services.

DoST engineers and workers are currently on-site, working to ensure the bridge is completed at the earliest possible time. Despite challenging terrain and weather conditions, the team is prioritizing safety and structural stability during installation.

Local residents have expressed appreciation for the swift government response, saying the bridge will greatly ease travel difficulties and help resume normal life in the gewog. Once completed, the temporary bridge will serve as an immediate solution until a permanent structure can be established to ensure long-term connectivity across the Amochu River.

A DoST official said, “As of November 12, 2025, the progress is as follows: The construction of the boulder abutment on the Denchukha side has been completed, and the Plain Cement Concrete (PCC) layer on top has also been laid. The boulder abutment on the Dorokha side is expected to be completed by 13th November with the PCC laying scheduled for completion on 14th November. Overall, the project including the launching of the 80-foot Bailey bridge is expected to be completed within 12 to 13 days and opened to traffic by the end of November 2025. One of the major challenges encountered during construction was the high water level of the swollen river, which made building the stone abutment particularly difficult. To ensure worker safety, strict supervision and monitoring are being carried out during the de-launching and dismantling of the existing Bailey bridge components.”

He also added, “During the launching and reassembly stages, all Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and established guidelines for Bailey bridge installation will be strictly followed, with every precautionary measure taken to ensure a safe launch. Additionally, all necessary safety gear will be used to prevent accidents and injuries among workers. This temporary bridge is being constructed to restore immediate connectivity without a detailed survey and substructure design, and therefore, it will have load restrictions. The bridge will accommodate light, medium, and heavy vehicles up to a maximum load of 18 metric tons (MT).

For a long-term solution, the Department plans to construct a multi-span Bailey bridge at the same location after conducting a detailed survey and substructure design. ”LD Sharma, Mangmi of Denchukha Gewog, said, “The disruption of the bridge has severely affected the daily lives of residents in Denchukha Gewog. The community has been completely cut off from surrounding areas, making it extremely difficult to transport essential goods, access medical services, and carry out official work. Farmers have faced serious challenges in marketing and selling their agricultural produce, while emergency patients have been exposed to significant risks. Overall, the situation has caused major inconvenience, economic hardship, and emotional distress among the residents.”

He added, “To ease the difficulties caused by the bridge disruption, a ropeway (ghirling) system was constructed to facilitate the transportation of goods and essential supplies across the river. This temporary arrangement has been instrumental in supporting the community during the period of isolation. Through the ropeway, vital items such as food, fuel, medicines, and other daily necessities are being safely transported from one side of the river to the other. Although the system has limited capacity and cannot replace a motorable bridge, it has provided significant relief by ensuring the continuous flow of basic services and reducing the physical burden on people who would otherwise have to carry heavy loads manually across the river.”

He also said that since the disruption occurred, the Gewog Administration has been working in close coordination with the Department of Surface Transport (DoST). Both offices have collaborated to plan and implement the construction of a temporary motorable bridge to restore connectivity at the earliest possible time. The bridge over the Amo Chu (Toorsa River) serves as a vital lifeline for the people of Denchukha Gewog and Sertena Chiwog under Gakiling Gewog in Haa Dzongkhag. It connects these remote communities to Phuentsholing and other parts of Samtse Dzongkhag, enabling the smooth movement of people, goods, and services. The bridge plays a critical role in sustaining local economic activities, particularly for farmers who depend on it to transport their produce to markets. It also ensures timely access to education, healthcare, and emergency services, making it indispensable to the well-being and livelihood of the people in the region.

Krishna Dahal, a local resident, said, “The road disconnection has had a severe impact on our daily lives. A short journey that once took just ten minutes by car now takes more than an hour on foot, whether to visit the gewog office for official work or to access medical services at the nearest Primary Health Centre. I run a small shop in Denchukha, and during the disruption, it became extremely difficult to arrange essential goods for the villagers living nearby. It was a challenging time for everyone, as movement was restricted and transportation of supplies was nearly impossible. Now that the temporary bridge is nearing completion, the first thing I plan to do is take my vehicle for maintenance, as the poor road conditions have caused damage and it needs repair. After that, I must travel to restock goods for my shop since my supplies are almost depleted.”

He added, “The local community has been very supportive throughout the reconstruction efforts. Earlier, when the bamboo bridge was built, everyone contributed their time and labor. Even when the temporary motorable bridge was washed away by the flood, people once again came forward to help. Those who could not contribute physically provided meals and refreshments for the workers. I express my sincere gratitude to the concerned authorities for their hard work and dedication so far. We have received timely support, and I hope that the same level of commitment will continue to ensure the wellbeing of all residents in Denchukha.”