Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 12: The construction of a vital bridge in Dogripora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district began over 15 years ago, but the work continues to drag on, causing misery for the locals.
The construction of a bridge over the Jhelum River began in 2007 with the goal of connecting several Pulwama villages to the Srinagar-Anantnag Highway. Once completed, it would benefit several villages in Pulwama, including Dogripora, Reshipora, Panzgam, Shal-Taken and Nayina.
The delay in the completion of the work is forcing people to take a long detour to reach the highway. “We have to either travel to the Awantipora or board overcrowded fishing boats to cross the river to reach the highway,” Shabir Ahmad Dar, a resident, said, adding that for the last 15 years, people have been awaiting the completion of the bridge.
According to locals, the bridge’s construction is moving at a snail’s pace, despite the fact that the foundation stone was laid by then-Minister of Public Works Department (PWD), Mohammad Khalil Bandh. “The bridge was allotted in consideration of the hardships that people face here, but an excessive delay in its completion is squandering the initiative,” Ghulam Mohammad, a local, said, adding that they want the present administration to look into the matter and speed up the construction work.
Even after the project was listed as languishing, construction work continues at a snail’s pace. “Previously, the construction agency would give excuses of funds shortages, but the project continues to remain stalled despite the availability of funds,” another local said, adding that only two pillars have been completed on the bridge and the expected completion date is unknown.
Initially, the bridge was to be built in the public sector, but due to lack of funds, the authorities were forced to transfer the projects to other schemes. The bridges were initially transferred to the CRF and then to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), but neither received funding. The frequent changes in schemes, on the other hand, severely harmed the projects.
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