Bhutan’s Gelephu–Tareythang Road Project has reached a key milestone, with the government expecting to complete the Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the end of this year and begin construction by mid-2027.
Funded by the World Bank at an estimated cost of USD 232 million, the project will include a 12-km road, a four-lane highway from Gelephu to Chhuzanggang, and a one-kilometre four-lane bridge over the Mau River. The new route will reduce the travel distance between Gelephu and Tareythang from nearly 45 km to about 14 km, cutting travel time to less than 15 minutes.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chandra Bahadur Gurung said the project is in the detailed design stage, with engineering, traffic, hydrology and environmental studies largely completed. Tendering is expected to begin once the DPR is finalised.
The road, a key component of the Gelephu Mindfulness City initiative, has been designed with extensive environmental safeguards. Measures include wildlife-friendly bridges and habitat protection for endangered species such as the Asian elephant and Gee’s Golden Langur, reflecting Bhutan’s commitment to balancing infrastructure development with biodiversity conservation.