Work will be completed next year: JKPCC official
By: Aabid Hameed
Awantipora: Even after elapsing of 15 years, a vital bridge on river Jhelum at Dogripora in Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district is awaiting completion.
Locals said that the foundation of the bridge was laid in 2006 during PDP-Congress regime, however, since then 15 years have passed even 50 percent work hasn’t been completed yet.
Shahid Ahmad, a resident of Dogripora village, said that over the years, many people have drowned while crossing Jhelum through a boat in absence of this bridge.
Such accidents wouldn’t have happened had this bridge been completed on time, he said, adding that this bridge would connect dozens of villages with National Highway at Pujteng Sethar and over 50 villages with Railway station Panzgam Pulwama.
He added that project is under JKPCC and in a year the work is taken up just for the period of 15 to 20 days.
Shahid Ahmad another local said that they have knocked the doors of every authority in this regard but on ground nothing has happened.
We have met Governors and their advisors as well who assured that work will start soon, however, their promises are yet to be fulfilled.
Locals once again requested higher ups to look into the matter and resume work on this bridge so that they can heave a sigh of relief.
A top official of the JKPCC said that they had kept the bridge in the list of languishing projects and got administrative approval and technical sanction.
He said that project got delayed due to paucity of funds, however, all funds are available now and it will be completed next year.
