Samtse-Phuentsholing highway on progress

Phuentsholing, April 13, 2009: The first of the major infrastructure development in southern Bhutan since 1990, the officials of the Department of Roads hope to complete the road Samtse-Phuentsholing highway and the Samtse-Dorokha road on time.

The first width cutting of 50.56 km up to the suspension bridge at Phurbhay – a two-hour walking distance from Phuentsholing – has been completed.

Works on retaining walls and culverts are underway. Begun in February 2005, Samtse-Phuentsholing highway is expected to complete by 2012 wit total budget outlay of Nu 811 million.

About 12 km of track construction for the Halhaley-Dorokha has been completed since it began in February 2007. Halhaley is 25 km away from Samtse along the highway. The road section is expected to complete before this monsoon.