Agency: The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) allocated Nu 350 million for emergency maintenance efforts this year, including monsoon restoration and roadblock clearance.
This budget represents an increase from previous years, driven by the inclusion of dzongkhag roads into the Department of Surface Transport (DoST) road network.
The allocated funds cover a range of activities, such as deploying machinery for roadblock and landslide clearance, snow removal, river dredging, and restoring monsoon-damaged infrastructure.
MoIT shared that they recognize the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change. The ministry has developed a proactive approach to monsoon damage restoration, including thorough studies of all critical landslide-prone road sections and solutions, at the same time exploring funding requirements.
As per DoST, “Some critical sections, like I-slip and Khigodhen, have been stabilized through support from Green Climate Funds, while Reotala is still in the process of implementing control measures. However, since roadblocks largely depend on the intensity and duration of rainfall, predicting exact locations are very difficult.”
Therefore, the department follows a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as a proactive approach.
