By: Owais Gul
Srinagar: In a bid to preserve the old heritage and also create public place in the congested old City area, the Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) has taken up a project to redesign the old Habba Kadal bridge here in Srinagar at the cost of Rs 1.8 crore.
According to a local news gathering agency, the old Habba Kadal bridge is being redesigned under the Smart City project.
Pertinently, the locals from time to time had urged the government to take necessary measures as the bridge was being used for the parking purpose, leaving less space for the people to travel or walk.
Chief Engineer, SSCL, Iftikhar Kakroo when contacted said that the bridge is being redesigned and will be constructed similar to the Zero bridge here where a huge rush of people could be seen visiting on a regular basis.
“We have taken up the project worth Rs 1.8 crore to redesign the old Habba Kadal bridge here, which was currently not in use. Almost 50 per cent work on the project has been completed and it would take further two months to complete the project,” Kakroo said.
The project has been taken up in order to create a public space and also preserve the old heritage in Shehr-e-Khaas, adding that it is very difficult to find a spot where public space can be created; luckily the spot was identified as the bridge was not in use at present and the work has been started in this regard.
The illumination and other works are still pending and the bridge will be completely redesigned in the next two months, he said.
The old Habba Kadal bridge, which is being redesigned similar to Zero bridge, will have a lot of sitting spaces, Gazebos and kiosks on it after its completion.
The officials have made it clear that the bridge will be exclusively for pedestrian use only as the vehicles will not be allowed to ply on it.
SSCL, CEO, Athar Aamir Khan in a tweet had also stated that the citizens in the old city will be enjoying their evenings on Habba Kadal Foot bridge very soon.
“Zero Bridge at Rajbagh has become one of the most visited public spaces in Srinagar city. On similar lines now our Old #HabbaKadal Bridge is being redesigned as a pedestrian bridge cum public space under #SrinagarSmartCity. The #HabbaKadal Footbridge will have a lot of sitting spaces, Gazebos and kiosks on it. No cars on it, only people! Very soon our citizens in the old city will be enjoying their evenings on the Habba Kadal Foot bridge!,” CEO SSCL tweeted. (KNO)
