PM claims southern road construction halted due to security

The Tobgay government has suspended the construction of the National Highway intended to connect the southern districts, citing security reasons.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay claimed the increasing trend of kidnapping and militant activities led of suspension of the road construction.

The government had been claiming that flowing the All Clear operations in 2003, Bhutan has been safe from all militants active in India.

However the general understanding is that the suspension was due to pressure from the government of India who disliked the project funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB). One of the conditions of the project from ADB is to invite international contractors in the bidding process, not just Indians.

South-South National Highway is expected to connect Samtse (Samchi) and Samdrupjongkhar with internal road network.