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1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

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the territories of Assam and Bengal. They said that many people who have<br />

taken loan from the government to invest in profitable business have faced<br />

difficulty in disposing their goods on time owing to difficulties posed by road<br />

problems. Consequently, they have been responsible for incurring millions of<br />

loses to the government. The construction of the road would be a key solution to<br />

avoid such problems.<br />

The Secretary of the Ministry of Communications said that as submitted by the<br />

people of Sarpang Dzongkhag, the construction of a highway inside Bhutanese<br />

territory has become an imperative in view of the security risks arising while<br />

traveling through Indian territory. A feasibility study on the construction of a<br />

highway connecting Gelephu, Phuntsholing and Samdrup Jongkhar has been<br />

done. According to it, a total road length of approximately 554 kilometers from<br />

east to west in the south has to be constructed. In addition, 23 major bridges,<br />

nearly 100 medium and 30 small bridges have to be constructed. Besides, walls<br />

above and below the roads, drainage, retaining walls and embankments have to<br />

be constructed. The total cost of construction is estimated at Nu.2,500 billion.<br />

The alignment also falls in areas of unstable soil conditions, and at the foothills<br />

of mountains, which are prone to landslides. Therefore, a study to assess the<br />

viability of the road, and an environment impact assessment has to be done. If<br />

the study indicates its viability, it will be included in the national highway<br />

master plan which is being currently prepared.<br />

The feeder road proposed by the people of Sarpang Dzongkhag would benefit<br />

development activities, and also transportation requirements for cash crops such<br />

as oranges, cardamom, ginger etc. However, the construction of this road has<br />

not been included in the 8 th Five-Year Plan programmes. Nevertheless, since the<br />

8 th plan is concluding, the proposal for the construction of this road will be<br />

included in the national highway master plan after assessing its viability.<br />

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