7.1 Roads, Bridges, Rest Houses etc.
7.1.1 Prior to the advent of planning, except for the mule tracks, there were no motorable roads in Bhutan. In those days, it was a difficult journey of over five days to reach Thimphu from Phuntsholing, while today it is a matter of five hours easy drive on a beautiful motorable road. The development Of t roads network had been a great achievement of the earlier two plans. Regions within the country which had hitherto been too remote and cut off have now been opened up. Work is in progress on a west‑east lateral road which will ultimately connect Ha with Tashigang and when completed, will bring about a closer link between places in the northern part of the country. Major part of the expenditure on this road will be outside the scope of plan funds and the work is being executed by Border Roads Organization of India.
7.1.2 All the road works were not financed out of the plan funds. During the earlier two plans a sum of Rs.13 crore was spent on the construction of roads and the following works were undertaken by the Border Roads Organization and the Government:
7.1.3 During the Third Plan, a sum of Rs. 276 lakh has been provided for the completion of works on the continuing schemes viz., Sarbhang‑Chirang road, Approach road to Tala, Lobeysa‑Punakha road, Tashigang‑Rangjhung road and includes a provision of Rs. 80 lakh for the completion of Tshalemaphe- Wangdiphodrang road being constructed by the Border Roads Organiation. The following new road works will also be undertaken:
7.1.4 For the construction of bridges an outlay of Rs. 55 lakh has been provided. Construction of suspension bridges at the following thirteen places will be taken up:
| 1. Dorakha | 2. Punakha | 3. Lamidara |
| 4. Chengmari | 5.Chargharey | 6. Kalikhola Dagapela |
| 7. Chanch Khola | 8.Dagana Chu | 9. Mao Khola |
| 10.Rong Khola | 11.Bade Nadi | 12. Pankhar/Phangri Zam |
| 13.Burichu Khola |
| 1. Tashigang Duktey Zum | 2.Kurteo Cha Zum |
| 3. Khen Phankar Zum | 4. Phyiko Shingkhar Zum |
| 5. Langthil Zum | 6. Paro Shari Zum |
| 7. Sha Thanchu Zum |
7.1.5 During the Third Plan, Rest Houses and PWD Staff Quarters will be constructed at the following ten places:
| 1. Chirang | 2.Gaylegphug |
| 3. Shemgang | 4. Tashigang |
| 5. Samchi | 6.Deothang |
| 7. Mongar | 8.Punakha |
| 9. Tongsa | 10.Ha |
7.1.6 To sum up the total plan allocation under roads, bridges, rest houses etc. is Rs. 691 lakh as per the following details:
| Details | Plan Allocation (Rs. in lakhs) |
|---|---|
| (a) Continuing Schemes on roads | 276.00 |
| (b) New road works, surveys and improvement of mule tracks | 260.00 |
| (c) Bridges | 55.00 |
| (d) Rest Houses | 20.00 |
| (e) PWD staff quarters | 25.00 |
| (f) Maintenance of roads/bridges and mechanical equipment | 55.00 |
| Total: | 69l.00 |
7.2 Road Transport
7.2.1 Bhutan Government Transport Service was organized for the first time in 1965. It now runs passenger and freight services on all the motorable routes. By the end of the Second Five Year Plan, the BGTS had 31 passenger buses and 52 trucks. Gross earnings of the BGTS amounted to Rs. 39 lakh during 1969 and the net profit was computed at Rs. 6 lakh.
7.2.2 During the Third Plan transport facilities will be further strengthened. A provision of Rs. 69 lakh has been made for the replacement and addition to the existing fleet of vehicles and extension of workshop facilities.
7.3 Posts and Telegraphs
7.3.1 Although a courier service for the carriage of official mail was in existence in Bhutan for several years in the past, it was only in October, 1962, that a regular post office was opened at Phuntsholing and postage stamps valid for internal and external postage were issued. This was followed by opening of post offices at Paro and Thimphu. These initial postal facilities were restricted to the transit of unregistered mail with the modest beginning made in 1962. Towards the end of 1964, however, positive steps were taken to organize a country‑wide postal system and a Postal Adviser was appointed. To begin with, priority was accorded to the following programmes:
7.3.2 During the Third Five Year Plan, schemes have been drawn with a view to achieving the following objectives:
7.4 Tourism
7.4.1 It is expected that tourist traffic to Bhutan, especially to Thimphu and Paro would increase sufficiently during the coming years. To construct suitable accommodation for tourists during the Third Plan, a provision of Rs. 17 lakh has been made. The following schemes will be taken up:
| I. Gereral Post Offices : | 1. Thimphu |
| 2. Phuntsholing | |
| II. Departmental Post Offices: | 1. Paro |
| 2. Haa | |
| 3. Sarbhang | |
| 4. Samchi | |
| 5. Chirang | |
| 6. Gaylegphug | |
| 7. Samdrup Jongkhar | |
| 8. Tashigang | |
| 9. Wangdiphodrang | |
| 10. Chapcha | |
| 11. Lhuntsi | |
| 12. Mongar | |
| 13. Byakar | |
| 14. Tongsa | |
| 15. Punakha | |
| 16. Sibsoo | |
| 17. Chengmari | |
| 18. Kalikhola | |
| 19. Shemgang | |
| 20. Dorakha | |
| 21. Lingshi | |
| 22. Gasa | |
| 23. Dagapela | |
| 24. Deothang | |
| 25. Daga | |
| 26. Tashi Yangtshi | |
| III. Extra Departmental Post Offices: | 1.Putlibhir |
| 2. Chimakothi | |
| 3. Lamidara | |
| 4. Khasadrapchu | |
| 5. Kanglung |
| Name of Schemes | Plan Outlay (Rs. in lakhs) |
|---|---|
| 1. Direction | 10.14 |
| 2. Executive Staff | 4.39 |
| 3. Existing Post Office | 13.29 |
| 4. Departmental Post Office | 2.20 |
| 5. Extra Departmental Post Office | 1.37 |
| 6. Expansion of Postal and Telegraph facilities | 3.61 |
| 7. New Services | 1.69 |
| 8. Philatelic Services | 6.07 |
| 9. Carriage of Mail byvehicles | 14.57 |
| 10. Telegraph Services | 5.54 |
| 11. Buildings | 37.30 |
| 12. Training | 0.81 |
| 13. Runner Services | 7.75 |
| 14. Telephones | 20.00 |
| 15. Telephone & Telegraph Trainees | 1.27 |
| Total: | 130.00 |