Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Oct 13: Five years after it was sanctioned; a vital bridge over Jehlum at Sempora near Pampore on Srinagar outskirts is awaiting completion.
Locals from area said that no work has been done on the bridge in last several years and bridge is nowhere near completion.
Irshad Ahmad a resident of Pampore area said that if the bridge will be completed, it will give easy access to thousands of residents to reach to national highway and save time and money.
He said people of the area have no option other than to take long routes in order to reach Srinagar and parts in absence of this bridge.
Locals said that in case of emergencies, they suffer more as they have taken long routes and this bridge will help in taking patients hospital on time.
They said that work on the project was started but due to unknown reasons it has been left abandoned now.
They said that this issue has been brought in notice of higher ups time and again but situation on ground hasn’t changed.
They requested concerned higher ups to look into the matter at an earliest and complete this bridge so that they can heave a sigh of relief.
An official said that a 140 meter long bridge over Jhelum was sanctioned with an aim to connect dozens of Pulwama villages with each other and provide them shortest route to connect with national highway.
He said that work on the bridge which was to be constructed at a cost of Rs 13 crore was started in year 2017 and after some work was done.
He said that earlier it was Foot Bridge only and later locals insisted government to make it motorable one following which a fresh detailed project report was submitted as the cost of the project escalated.
He further added that due to shortage of funds work has been put on halt and as of now no funds are available and work can be started only once funds will be made available.
