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Neden Dorje
Samrang — The Samrang clan of Samdrupjongkhar not only shares an open border with the town of the same name in Assam, India. However, it took a long time to build a formal checkpoint to connect the two neighboring border towns.
The Royal Bhutan Police is in charge of the current border crossing, which is a plain iron gate flanked by a watchtower post and a few houses. Residents of the four sects of Samdrupcholing dungkhag and Samdrupjongkhar have demanded an integrated checkpoint at the border crossing.
Samrang residents said that without an integrated checkpoint, crossing the border has become difficult, especially with restrictions on motor vehicle entry and exit.
Business owners said restricting vehicle traffic caused unnecessary trouble and increased transportation costs.
Rinzin, a businessman, said that after the outbreak of the coronavirus, checkpoints restricted vehicle movement, which affected small and medium-sized enterprises from all four sects.
“Now, we have to arrange everything through Samdrupjongkhar gate. This significantly increases the distance and cost for local shopkeepers,” he said.
Former Prime Minister MB Gurung said that due to restrictions at the Samrang checkpoint, farmers were forced to export cash crops through Samdrupjongkhar, which increased transportation costs. “If we had an official checkpoint here, the market would be a few kilometers away.”
The problem worsens during medical emergencies when people have to hire Indian vehicles to take patients to Guwahati in Assam.
Many Bhutanese also park their cars outside the border to prepare for unforeseen emergencies.
Guwahati is about 67 km from Samrang.
Sangnang Gup Jigme Singh Druba said the establishment of an integrated checkpoint, which would bring together relevant agencies such as the Immigration Department, Bhutan Food and Drug Administration and the police department under one roof, would facilitate the movement of people and goods.
He said sects have no right to independently set up immigration offices and other infrastructure. “Such initiatives must go through the government. We have made such demands many times.”
A feasibility study for the checkpoint was also conducted and a report was submitted to the government.
A resident of Samlang said the official opening of the Samlang route will boost trade between the two countries and boost the local economy. “There are many mining sites in Samlang and this will benefit the community.”
Speaking to Kuhnsel, an official of the Law and Order Ministry said the proposal to establish a formal trade route at Samrang has been shared with the Indian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.
“Initially, we proposed to open a trade route from Barakum (opposite Jomosanka), but we found it more feasible to open a permanent trade route from Samrang, so we proposed to establish it. It is currently underway,” the official said.
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