𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐩 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥

…𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒔

By Tashi Tshewang

A regional milestone in infrastructure planning was reached on August 2 with the inauguration of the Regional Office of Infrastructure Development (RoID), established to serve Samdrup Jongkhar and Pemagatshel Dzongkhags. The launch was attended by the Dzongdag of Samdrup Jongkhar, Pemagatshel’s Dzongrab, and the district engineer, highlighting the spirit of collaboration between the two eastern districts.

The RoID is tasked with overseeing technical planning, preparing design drawings, and supporting infrastructure implementation. It is intended to function as a regional hub, streamlining project design and improving delivery capacity at the local level. Officials say the move aims to enhance efficiency, coordination, and technical capability in eastern Bhutan’s development efforts.

Kencho Tashi Phuntsho, Electrical Engineer and Interim Head of RoID in Samdrup Jongkhar, said the immediate priority is to make the office fully functional and well equipped. “Without adequate manpower and tools, we risk overburdening existing staff, which could affect the quality and timeliness of service delivery. That is why we are working closely with local governments to ensure our support is focused, relevant, and demand driven,” he said.

Before RoID’s establishment, most infrastructure projects, regardless of complexity, were handled by local governments, often stretching their limited technical resources. RoID is expected to address this by providing dedicated support and improving coordination and quality. “We provide technical services like design preparation, cost estimation, and site supervision, especially for complex projects. RoID also bridges local governments and central agencies for faster decision making. Moving forward, we are prioritizing capacity building and working with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Royal Civil Service Commission to ensure we retain skilled professionals,” Kencho Tashi Phuntsho said.

Dechheling Gewog Gup Jimpa Phuntsho said he has high expectations for the new office. “Its presence will greatly strengthen infrastructure planning and implementation in our gewog. We are hoping for better coordination, technical oversight, and more streamlined support for development projects in our rural communities. With RoID on the ground, we believe project planning will be more accurate, cost estimates more realistic, and implementation far timelier, especially for vital infrastructure like farm roads, irrigation channels, and water supply schemes,” he said.

For years, gewogs like Dechheling have faced limited access to engineering support, relying heavily on the overburdened Dzongkhag and Dungkhag offices. This often delayed project approvals, technical assessments, and site supervision, leading to inefficiencies and reduced quality. “In the past, one of our biggest challenges was the lack of readily available technical expertise. Now, with a dedicated regional office in place, we are confident these gaps will be addressed. RoID can offer quicker site visits, immediate troubleshooting, and stronger quality assurance throughout the project lifecycle. We also expect improved procurement and monitoring processes, better construction standards, and fewer delays. Ultimately, this means longer lasting infrastructure that genuinely meets the needs of our people. And beyond that, we look forward to the RoID team helping build the capacity of our gewog engineers and technicians through hands on mentoring and backstopping,” the Gup added.

Khar Gewog Gup Jamtsho said they have already submitted all budget related activities to Samdrup Jongkhar to coordinate with RoID. “Since this is a new cluster, we are hopeful that RoID will assist us with tasks like tendering construction works through the e-GP system and preparing estimates for large infrastructure projects. Although our Dzongkhag Engineering Section has been providing effective services so far, we anticipate that RoID’s presence will further improve service delivery and streamline processes in the future,” he said.

While Khar Gewog has not faced major technical hurdles so far, Jamtsho believes the office will still bring benefits. “We look forward to better coordination and support in managing engineering human resources, which has always been a challenge in rural areas. If needed, we will continue to work with RoID through our Chief District Engineer. With their technical expertise and structured approach, we hope to see more efficient and timelier implementation of our infrastructure projects,” he said.

Dewathang Gewog Gup Karma Dema said RoID’s presence is expected to improve access to technical drawings, designs, and expert support beyond the capacity of local government. “This will not only enhance the quality and durability of infrastructure but also ensure optimal and timely utilization of the capital budget,” she said.

She noted that in the past, Dewathang Gewog faced setbacks due to frequent staff transfers at the start of the financial year, delays in appointing substitutes, and changes in substitute engineers. These disruptions slowed engineering assistance and led to inconsistent technical information. Although a permanent engineer has now been appointed, some projects still require advanced technical expertise and complex designs that exceed local capacity. RoID is expected to help reduce delays caused by layered approvals, improve the accuracy of project designs, and ensure smoother implementation.

However, Karma Dema added that experiences from other Dzongkhags show the system could slow development if not managed efficiently. “If the RoID is adequately staffed with experienced and qualified personnel, we believe it will enable us to receive timely technical support, particularly for drawings and designs that are beyond the capacity of the Dzongkhag. This will reduce delays and improve project implementation, ensuring that our people benefit from well planned, durable infrastructure,” she said.