Rural roads are the tertiary road system in total road network which provides accessibility for the rural habitations to market and other facility centers. Rural roads are being planned and programmed in the context of overall rural development, and tried to provide all weather connectivity with some level of achievement. The long term road development plans for the country provided policy guidelines and priorities for rural roads, while the funds for rural roads were allocated in the Five Year Plans. Rural roads are a key component of rural development since they provide access to economic and social goods and services thereby generating increased agricultural income and production employment opportunity in rural areas. 

Rural development has now become a matter of growing urgency for considerations for social justice, national integration and economic uplift. 75% of the total population in Bhutan relies on agriculture. Therefore, the rural road network plays an important role in uplifting economic status in Bhutan. Most of the rural roads are tracks and roads not meeting technical standard. Rural roads sector suffered from lack of systematic planning, quality and sustained maintenance. It was a myth that rural roads do not require planning/design/quality assurance. Improved infrastructure of roads and transport services would make trading in rural area more efficient thereby reducing costs.