Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Feb 4: A long-awaited bridge connecting Guzhama in Ganderbal with Shilwat in Bandipora has remained incomplete for the past 15 years, leaving thousands of residents facing daily hardships and hoping for Government intervention.
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Residents lamented that the bridge, intended to serve as a vital link between central Kashmir’s Ganderbal and north Kashmir’s Bandipora districts, remained unfinished, forcing them to use fishing boats to cross the Jhelum river. This has put lives-especially those of school-going children-at risk. “Crossing the river by boat is extremely dangerous, and a mishap can happen at any time. It seems the Government is waiting for a tragedy before taking action,” said a local resident.
The construction of the bridge began in 2014 but was halted a year later, with no further progress. Locals have repeatedly approached the concerned authorities, but their appeals have gone unanswered. Now, they are hopeful that the new Government will intervene.
While the reasons behind the construction delays remained unclear, residents have expressed frustration over the authorities’ inaction. Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Shilwat, said, “For several years, we pleaded for a bridge here. Work finally began in 2014, just before the elections. Some progress was made, but then it abruptly stopped.”
Despite crores of rupees being spent, the bridge is still incomplete, raising concerns about wasted public funds. “Only about 30% of the work was completed after nearly Rs 9 crore was spent. It is baffling that authorities have made no effort to finish it,” residents said.
They also criticized previous Governments for neglecting the issue and urged the current Government, led by CM Omar Abdullah, to ensure the project’s completion. “We have raised concerns at every level, but no action has been taken. Whatever the issues are, they need to be resolved immediately,” locals said.
Tatheer Hussain, Executive Engineer of the Roads and Buildings Department, explained the delays. “JKPCC started work on the bridge in 2009-10, but various issues, including the absence of proper approval, caused delays.We have submitted a revised proposal of Rs.44 crore, covering land acquisition and approach roads. Once approved, we will resume work,” he said.
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