Nine years on, Mazbugh bridge awaits completion

Sopore, Oct 12: Nine years on, a vital bridge across Nallah Pohru- Mazbug bridge in north Kashmir, is awaiting completion raising questions over the executing agency.
The bridge would connect Baramulla, Rafiabad and other areas with Sopore town and fruit mandi.
Residents of Mazbug said that the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) has failed to complete the project within stipulated time. The work was started during the National Conference-led government in 2013, they added.
Though there is an old bridge in the area which was constructed in 1971 but it is too narrow and only a single vehicle can pass at a time, leaving a long queue of vehicles stranded.
“Currently, the work on the bridge is suspended and the project has missed the deadline,” said a local Shabir Ahmed.
He said that they have brought the issue into the notice of higher ups several times but there is no progress on the ground.
JKPCC Deputy General Manager (DGM) Masood Ahmed said that the pending work on the said project will start this month only as the tendering process has started.
He said that they have received an amount of 585.78 lakh out of 705 lakh for the project. (KNO)