Mir Iqbal
SRINAGAR, June 8: The renovation of the heritage Zero bridge over river Jhelum at Rajbagh to make it motorable has missed the deadline despite Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s directions that the bridge should be restored in 9 months.
The renovation of the bridge was started last year in May at the cost of Rs 2.3 crore and it was to be completed by January 2013.
The work on the wooden bridge, constructed in 50′, was taken by Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) in April last year on the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for conservation of this heritage bridge to make it motorable.
“Restoration work on Zero bridge was supposed to be completed in January 2013, and it was likely to be thrown open for motor vehicles by January, but paucity of funds and casual attitude of the contractor towards its restoration has not made the bridge functional till now,” said a top official of the JKPCC.
“For the past 15 months, the JKPCC has completed only 20 per cent of the project work,” the official said.
Deputy General Manager JKPCC, Pervaiz Ahmad Bhat said, “we can’t tell you exactly when the bridge would be completed and thrown open for traffic, as there are no funds available for the project with the JKPCC.”
Bhat said that the Chief Minister has given directions to the JKPCC to take all measures to protect and safeguard old and heritage bridge. “We are restoring the bridge to its original shape”, he added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel