Bhusuk road in need of urgent repairs

REBYNA RANA
GANGTOK, 09 Dec: People commuting on the Bhusuk to Chandmari road have had to suffer rough rides due to the bad road conditions along this route for the past many months.
60-year-old resident of Bhusuk, Megnath Rai, who travels to Gangtok every day, rues that the one and a half hour journey takes around 3 hours because of the horrible road conditions. The journey takes longer and is very tiring, he complained.
The road carpeting work from Chandmari to Bhusuk [Taksam Bridge] was sanctioned in 2011 for a total budget of Rs. 3.5 crore. The Roads & Bridges Department had completed the work along the 10 km stretch but conditions have again deteriorated with the road damaged at various places.
The problem also springs from parts of the road falling under the Army. Seven kilometres of the road after the Taksam bridge falls under the Army. As of now, carpeting work on the road from Chandmari to Taksam bridge has again started.
Mr Rai has appealed to the concerned department to expedite repair works during this dry season.
Speaking to NOW!, Chief Engineer, Roads & Bridges Department, CP Tongden, said that the carpeting work from Chandmari till Taksam bridge is expected to be completed by March next year.
He added that the department has also appealed to the Army to speed-up repair works on parts of the road that fall under its jurisdiction and assured that the department is putting in all efforts to repair the roads as soon as possible.
Mr. Tongden further informed that a project proposal for the up-gradation of the road from Chandmari till upper Pakyong was placed with the central government last year and the department is awaiting approval from the centre.