Waseem Ahmad
SRINAGAR, Jan 23: The construction of a bridge at Khawajabagh area in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district is incomplete despite lapse of 16 years.
The 262 meters bridge, besides, connecting Khawajabagh and Janbazpora, would connect these areas with the Srinagar-Baramulla road. It would reduce the travel time and serve as an alternative road between Baramulla and the Kupwara. “We have to cover a long distance to reach Kupwara, the bridge if constructed will help us in reducing the distance by about 30 kilometres,” Tariq Ahmad, a resident said.
The construction of the bridge was initiated in 2002, but the work was suspended frequently due to paucity of funds.
As per residents of the area, the work on the bridge is moving at snail’s pace and they have to face immense hardships in absence of the bridge. “We were very happy when the work on the bridge was started but 16 years have passed since the work was started and we are yet to see bridge,” Mehraj Ahmad, a resident from Khawajabagh, said.
Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC), the executing agency, blamed the paucity of funds for the delay in the project. “Scarcity of funds was the main reason for delay of the project,” Deputy General Manager, JKPCC, Feroz Ahmad Chat, said, adding scarcity of funds hampered the construction work and it overstretched the project.
He said the construction of the bridge was initiated with an estimated cost of Rs 15.65 crores but later the cost was revised to Rs 21.37 crores. A revised proposal has been submitted but funds are yet to come.
“Against the revised cost of Rs 21.37 crores, only Rs 6.32 crores were released and rest of the amount is pending. Besides, we received only Rs 10 lakh rupees this year,” Feroz said.
He added only the foundation of the bridge is complete and super structure and Sub-Structure of the bridge is pending. He, however, expressed hope that the bridge would be completed by the end of this year.
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