Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Dec 2: Under construction since last many years, two vital bridges over river Jhelum at Qamarwari and Pandrethan in Srinagar have failed to meet their deadlines yet again and there are no chances of them getting complete this year.
The construction work on Rs 9.46 crore Qamarwari bridge with 127 meters-length was started in June 2011 and it was slated to be complete by June 2014. According to officials, the bridge construction was aimed at easing traffic congestion in the area. A bridge already existing in the area, popularly called ‘Cement Bridge’, has failed to accommodate traffic rush.
Expressing concern over delay in completion of the bridge in Qamarwari despite availability of funds, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had last year on March 2016 admitted that the people residing in the area have to face huge traffic jams, thus putting them to several hardships. She had set March 31, 2017 as deadline for the completion during her tour of the area last year but Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department missed the target and work continued to be in progress.
Chief Engineer, R&B, Abdul Hamid Sheikh said that the construction work on the Qamarwari bridge would be completed in March next year. “We have received funds from the Government and there is no problem now. Out of Rs. 9.46 crore, we have received Rs. 7 crore approximately. The pace of the work would increase in the coming days and hopefully by March we would complete the Bridge work and then we also have to complete approach road besides demolition of local mosque,” he told Excelsior.
Another bridge at Pandrethan on city outskirts over river Jhelum is lying incomplete. Official sources said the work on 120 meter double lane Pandrethan bridge was started in year 2012 by Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) Limited but lost pace due to paucity of the funds. Before the construction began, Government took nearly two years in deciding the location for the construction of the bridge. The bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs 13.33 crore and was expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The bridge, once completed, would connect areas like Lasjan, Soiteng and Padhshahi Bagh to Srinagar mainland via National Highway. The locals from Soiteng, Lasjan, Padshahi Bagh, Athwajan, Pandrethan, Batwara, Sonawar and other adjoining areas have time and again lamented Government’s alleged lackadaisical approach towards the construction of the ‘vital connecting link’ and charged them with showing indifferent attitude towards the people of the area.
Deputy General Manager, JKPCC, Zulfiqar Parray, said that the work is underway on the Pandrethan bridge and they presently have no paucity of funds. “So far, the Government has released us Rs 8.84 crore. There are three spans of the bridge and out of them, we have completed one. The work on another span is mid-way and we hope to complete the entire project by May next year,” he told Excelsior.
The residents of both Qamarwari and Pandrethan areas have slammed Government for missing one after another deadline in construction of bridges. They have appealed Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to personally monitor these projects which are incomplete since last five years and ensure their completion on new deadlines set by the executing agencies themselves.
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