Decade on, Sopore’s Mahrajpora bridge awaits completion

Sopore, Aug 7: Even after elapsing a decade, a vital Mahrajpora-Shercolony bridge in north Kashmir’s Sopore area awaits completion with locals brewing strong resentment against the authorities for the inordinate delay.
Accusing concerned departments for immense hardships, the locals said the administration seems least bothered about the sufferings of the people by not completing the bridge since long. The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by the then chief minister Omar Abdullah on December 02, 2013.
The bridge was earlier being constructed by the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC), however, it was later handed over to the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department, division Sopore.
Rayees Ahad Kaloo, a social activist said that the 205 meter long bridge, which is to be built on 4 pillars with 9 piles, is being built at the estimated cost of Rs 16 crore.
However, 10-years have elapsed, but the bridge has been left unattended. “The completion of the bridge is just a dream for us,” he said.
“The slow pace of the work and dilapidated condition of the roads itself speaks of the incompetence of the authorities,” he said. “The project was set to be completed within three years, however, it missed several deadlines,” Rayees added.
Since the work on the bridge was started a decade ago, so far only pillars have been raised halfway, said Abdul Ahad, a local resident.
Despite several assurances by the government, the construction of the bridge has been stalled for several years, Ahad said.
He said, that once the bridge is made functional, it will shorten the distance and connect many villages of Sopore outskirts including Tarzoo, Panjipora, Hygam and other areas and it will also be an alternate way towards reaching Bandipora, Kupwara and Srinagar, he said.
Locals urged the government to complete the bridge at an earliest.
Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Roads and Building department, Sopore, Er Danish told KNO that the work on the project is not being started as there has been response from the contractors with regard to the tenders issued by them. (KNO)