R&B Deptt directs construction of approach roads of bridge
Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: Authorities in Roads and buildings (R&B) department in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district have finally started the tendering process for the construction and macadamisation of approach roads on both sides of the bridge constructed nearly a decade ago over Linder river at Bagwani village of Pahalgam.
The development came after this newspaper, over a couple of weeks ago, carried a story on the locals of twin villages pooling money for construction of the approach roads after being disappointed by the lethargy displayed by the authorities.
The bridge, according to locals was sanctioned by the government in 2005 at the estimated cost of Rs eight crore and the construction of the same was completed by JKPCC in 2012. The construction of the bridge was aimed at connecting two vast areas of Dachnipora and Khowripora.
However, after waiting for a decade for authorities to construct approach roads on both sides of the bridge, the residents of Bagwani and Amad had pooled the money to construct the approach roads on their own earlier this month.
As the construction of approach roads by locals was on, The Precious Kashmir carried a report on the sluggishness of the authorities titled ‘Decade long wait compels twin villagers to construct approach roads of the bridge on their own’.
Following the report, the LG administration, sources said, sought a factual report from the sub-divisional magistrate Pahalgam.
SDM , Pahalgam sought report from the R and B authorities who in their reply stated that they had already submitted a proposal for the same.
Sources said that taking a strong note of the report, top authorities directed the officials of R and B division Khanabal to go for the tendering process without any delay.
“Soon after the issue was highlighted, the Commissioner Secretary Public Works Department issued instructions to the Chief Engineer to get the tenders floated for the said work. The Chief Engineer passed similar directions to the officials of R&B division who have started the process,” a source said.
The directions for tendering process, however, the source said have come only verbally while the proposal continues to await approval.
Executive engineer, R&B division Khanabal, Qazi Javed confirmed that he has received instructions from chief engineer for floating of tenders for the construction and macadamisation of approach roads of the bridge.
“We have started the process and will be issuing tenders for the same in few days only,” Exen said, however, added that the proposal submitted by his division is yet to be approved.
“Since I have received the instructions from top i will float the tenders but I cannot open them unless there is approval,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, people of Bagwani have demanded that the tenders be allotted only for the macadamisation part of the approach roads.
“We have laid the soling on both sides of approach roads. It needs to be macadamised only,” the residents said.
