Projects to decongest P/ling traffic closer to implementation These include restoring the direct route to Pasakha, a bypass road and a dry port Town: The distance to Pasakha industrial town could be shortened, and the perennial traffic congestion problem in Phuentsholing town solved by mid 2019, with two major projects seeing new developments. The South Asia sub-region economic cooperation (SASEC) project, which has two projects in Phuentsholing to minimise traffic congestion, completed negotiation with the funding agency, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently. To deviate trucks entering the town, a 1.2km road will be constructed from Bolan Chaupati at Manglabari, India, which will connect the industrial area in Pasakha. This would improve the traffic flow in the town, and reduce transportation costs for industrialists. The project coordinator for this construction, Sonam Tobgay, who is with the department of roads (DoR), explained the project is to restore the same road that existed before, which was washed away in 2011. “We’re at the evaluation stage of tenders at present,” the project coordinator said, adding that it may take some time, as there were various stages in the project “We also have to consult with ADB after the evaluations are completed.” However, Sonam Tobgay said the works would be awarded by December this year, which he explained was a tentative deadline DoR has kept. In addition to the road, two bridges will also be constructed on this road. A bridge will be constructed at Bhalujhora, where the bridge had collapsed. Another bridge will be constructed at the landslide prone area in Baunijhora. Cost estimates for the two bridges and the road come to about Nu 351.936M. Meanwhile, the thromde will be constructing the land customs station (LCS) for the Bolan Chaupati-Pasakha bypass at Alley in Pekarzhing, Pasakha. Along with the station, thromde will also construct a mini-dry port in Phuentsholing, and a 2.71km bypass road that connects the port. A bridge over the Omchu will also be constructed. The bypass road will start near Rabten workshop and extend until the RBA area. The bypass road and the port would also ease the traffic congestion of the two bordering towns. In order to procure the services of the detailed design, procurement assistance, and construction supervision consultant, the thromde has already floated the expression of interests (EOI). About 28 global firms have expressed interest, out of which six were shortlisted. The thromde project coordinator, DC Dhimal, said four of the six firms have submitted their full technical proposal. “The proposals are being evaluated,” he said. Once a consultant is finalised, DC Dhimal said the detailed engineering designs and all other technical parameters would be carried out for implementation of these constructions. The process of selecting and deploying of the consultant will complete by November. For the construction of the LCS, mini-dry port, and the bypass road, ADB has committed USD 12.95M. However, ADB has committed a total of USD 69M for all the SASEC projects in the country. These include road construction in Dewathang and Nganglam.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 18:15:09 +0000
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