January 12: The National Assembly today discussed issues related to road construction and revision of technical designs of different categories of road. Members also discussed security protection for Members of the Parliament.

The session began with members proposing for security protection for Members of the Parliament. Members from Lhamoy Zingkha-Trashiding and Drujeygang-Tseza in Dagana said it is important to provide security protection for the Members of the Parliament during movement and public meetings especially in the southern dzongkhags.

Several members of the house supported the view while some members said that it is equally important to provide security to all citizens and not just the Parliamentarians.

After extensive deliberations, the house agreed it is important to provide security to all Bhutanese and that the government should look into this. The Home Ministry said it is working on a system that will take care of the security of all Bhutanese not just for parliamentarians but civil servants and business people.

Following this, the house discussed the revision of technical designs and policies of different categories of road. The Nanglam MP said the construction of any category of road is totally based on the technical designs drawn up many years ago. He said it is necessary to review the designs in keeping with changing times. This he said will avoid extra works such as widening works later.

He added road widening works along the Thimphu-Phuentsholing and Samdrupjongkhar-Trashigang highway is causing problems like soil erosions and landslides. Most members of the house supported the view.

The Home and Cultural Affairs Minister said road widening works between Samdrupjongkhar and Trashigang is being carried out for many reasons. Lyonpo Minjur Dorji said it will first ease the transportation of heavy equipment and machineries for the hydro projects in the east. Lyonpo said the wide roads will also minimize accidents.

The Works and Human Settlement Minister said the Ministry received instructions from the Cabinet to review old plans. Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba said the Ministry has formed a Committee to look into technical designs and policies for road construction.