Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 28: High Court today sought technical expertise from Amicus on detailed report by Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) on construction of bridge at Rajbagh.
Since the report has been submitted by the ERA in the open court, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey sought the opinion and technical expertise on construction of bridge from Amicus to the PIL filed by R A Jan (Sr. Advocate).
Court has already put on hold the construction of the bridge by passing status quo order as construction of the bridge was out of plan.
The facet of proposed skewed bridge along river Jhelum at Presentation Convent School at Rajbagh which is under construction was changed by the authorities and a new bridge out of plan was erected parallel to the Abdullah Bridge.
According to B A Bashir and R A Jan (Sr. counsels), when a PIL was filed way back in 2013 about the construction of the bridge the Government admitted that it would ease out the traffic congestion in city and today they (Government) is itself changing its nature.
On the other hand Advocate General stated that for making the bridge motorable its height has to be raised and in that case it would deface the vicinity of both sides of the river.
Therefore court had sought a detailed report from the ERA to the extent whether the bridge be made motorable or pedestrian bridge.
Court has already directed the authorities to proceed ahead with the construction of the skewed bridge (but not foot bridge) as per original plan of 1981 by completing it and throwing it open for the traffic use.
The suo-moto cognizance was taken by the court in a media report highlighting how the State Government was hell-bent upon destroying the ecology of Srinagar city and throw to ruins the historical heritage site-the Emporium Gardens-besides abandoning a well thought of and almost half-complete engineering plan at the cost of huge sums and showing scorn to a decision of High Court in another Public Interest Litigation.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel