Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 15: More than a decade after construction began, a footbridge at Sumbal in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district remains incomplete, forcing residents to take risky boat rides or long detours for daily commuting.
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The 99-metre-long footbridge across the Jhelum river at Sumbal in Sonawari was started over 13 years ago but has remained stalled, leaving students, patients and other commuters facing significant hardships.
Residents said the bridge is vital for connectivity between several areas and would significantly ease daily travel once completed.
Muhammad Muzaffar Sheikh, a local resident, said the project has been left incomplete for years despite repeated promises.
“For more than 13 years the bridge has remained in the same condition. One contractor comes, does some work and then leaves, and another does the same. People are facing huge difficulties,” he said.
Sheikh said many families are forced to ferry children across the river by boat to reach schools and other destinations.
“There used to be an old wooden bridge connecting the two sides, but it was dismantled for the new one. We were told the work would start when the MLA visited, but nothing happened,” he said.
He added that the risk increases significantly when the water level in the river rises.
“At that time, crossing becomes dangerous. The footbridge is a necessity and the Government must complete it,” he said.
Ghulam Nabi, who operates a boat service across the river, said work on the bridge began around 2014 but has seen no progress since then.
“The old bridge was removed for construction of a new one, but the work stopped and nothing has happened since,” he said.
He said residents feel neglected. “People come here only when they need votes. After that, they do not visit the area. The bridge is important for connectivity and people have been left to fend for themselves,” he added.
Locals have urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and ensure the project is completed without further delay.
Officials from the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Division Sumbal acknowledged the delay and said efforts are underway to revive the project.
Tanveer Ahmad, Executive Engineer of the division said the project had initially started around 2013 but work was halted after the 2014 floods and other technical issues.
“It is an important bridge and people have been facing difficulties due to the delay,” the official said.
He added that a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared and submitted to higher authorities for approval. “We are hopeful that the DPR will be approved soon, after which work on the bridge will be started at the earliest,” he said.
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