By: Aabid Hameed
Awantipora: Over a decade has passed, but the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) have miserably failed to complete the construction of a vital bridge on river Jhelum at Reshipora in Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Locals said that the foundation of the bridge was laid in the year 2008 during PDP-Congress regime, however, since then 13 years have passed but 60 percent hasn’t been completed yet.
Altaf Ahmad, a local Auqaf member of Reshipora village, said that in absence of bridge, they have to go for around 10 kilometers to reach highway, which otherwise is just half kilometer away from them provided bridge will be completed.
He said that if this bridge will be completed, this will connect Tral area with Shahoora area in Pulwama and shorten their distance by kilometers.
Another local said that he donated his land for the construction of the bridge but since then over a decade has passed but nothing has been done on the ground.
He added that in order to reach school or college, their children have to cross the river Jhelum through boat, which could prove dangerous anytime.
Locals said that they have knocked the doors of every authority in this regard but on the ground nothing has happened.
They said that there is no transport service available in the area, due to which the local people are suffering and it can be started only when bridge will be completed, adding that now officials are claiming that there is change in proposal and why it wasn’t done since last 13 years and now since 2019, the work has been completely put on halt.
Locals urged higher ups to look into the matter and resume work on this bridge so that locals could heave a sigh of relief.
Deputy Managing Director JKPCC Masood Ahmad Gagoo said that there is a change in the proposal of the bridge as it will be now truss bridge instead of Plate Bridge.
He said that file is lying before higher officials and once it will be approved, the work will be started again.
