February 15: Monggar residents have been facing a huge problem finding transportation after the only passenger bus between Monggar and Trashigang broke down recently.

Our correspondent says with schools across the kingdom reopening this week, this could not have happened at a worse time.

Head of the Regional Road Safety and Transport Authority, Cheda, said the bus has become old and breaks down often. He said they have informed the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) head office in Thimphu.

He said the RSTA office has also advised the owner of the transport service to purchase a new bus within six months. If a new bus is not purchased within that time, the license to operate the bus service will be handed over to a new operator. The old bus will be repaired and used during the interim period.

There are other buses traveling to Trashigang but they come from Thimphu, Trongsa, and Bumthang.

Residents said they are almost always packed and it is impossible to find empty seats in the bus. People said it is expensive to travel by taxis as they charge anywhere between Nu. 300 to 500 from Monggar to Trashigang. The bus fare is only Nu. 85.