4 years on, Gogjidaji bridge in Sopore’s Tarzu awaits completion, locals suffer

Sopore, Sep 19: Strong resentment is brewing among locals of Tarzu and adjoining villages against inordinate delay in completion of the Gogjidaji bridge, with the concerned authority blaming third party for the delay, says once they’ll get the bridge bearings the pending work will start.
As per the local residents, the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) has failed to complete the Gogjidaji bridge project at Tarzu village in North Kashmir’s Sopore, despite passing of four years.
Residents said, that the JKPCC failed to complete the project within stipulated time, says the work has been approved in the year 2018 and should have been completed in 2021 only. “The JKPCC and Contractors are deliberately delaying the project work”, locals allege.
Patron Central Auqaf Tarzu, Aijaz Ahmed Dar said that, though the work got delayed due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the unfavourable situation in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370, but the Contractors and the executing body – Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) are in no mood to complete the pending project.
“The bridge is under construction for the past four years. Currently, the work on the project remains suspended and the project has already missed the deadline,” Aijaz said.
They have brought the issue in notice of higher ups several times but on ground nothing has been done”, said Central Auqaf. “If the issue is not been addressed in a timely manner, we will hit the roads,” they added.
The locals however, urged the government to direct the authorities concerned to ensure completion of the bridge at the earliest, so that people may not face any inconvenience anymore.
Meanwhile, Deputy General Manager (DGM) JKPCC, Masood Ahmed when contacted said that, the pending work on said project will start soon after they receive the bridge bearings which is to be received from the third party.
Asked about the completion time, the DGM said that the bridge will be made functional till December this year. (KNO)