The newly launched Taktichhu bridge, located on the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway, is not only an engineering wonder but also marks a significant milestone in Bhutan's infrastructure development and the relationship it shares with neighbouring India.

The bridge was jointly inaugurated by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Chandra Bahadur Gurung, and Ambassador of India to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalela, recently.

The bridge was constructed at a cost of around Nu 200 million.

To keep the stretch open in all seasons, Project Dantak initiated the construction a 100-metre reinforced cement concrete (RCC) Taktichhu bridge in May 2019.

The total length of the bridge is 100m, the carriageway is 7.5 metres and has two footpaths on each side of 1.5 meters, reported Kuensel.

Minister Chandra Bahadur Gurung pointed out that the bridge marked a deep friendship shared between India and Bhutan.

“The Taktichhu bridge stands as a symbol of the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two nations,” Lyonpo was quoted as saying by Kuensel.

Lyonpo said that the construction of the Takti Chu bridge underscored our commitment to ensuring safe and efficient travel along the Phuentsholing and Thimphu highway.

The Indian envoy described the bridge as an important means of connectivity in the Himalayan nation.

“Over the years traffic in this road has increased by many folds. It is used for commercial purposes both from in and outside the country," the envoy was quoted as saying by Kuensel.

The ambassador said that going forward, under the 13th Plan of Bhutan, the government of India is committed to expanding its partnership with MoIT, including seeking new avenue of cross-border and multimodal connectivity like railways, as per the priority of the government of Bhutan.

Diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan were established in 1968. The basic framework of India- Bhutan relations has been the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries, which was revised in February 2007.