Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, July 26: The construction work of the Guzhama Bridge in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district has been halted for the last two years as the funds have completely dried up for this 10-year-old project.
Officials associated with the project told Excelsior that there has been no headway on the project for the last two years due to scarcity of funds, but they maintained that the work would resume soon as the Government was mulling to list it under languishing projects.
“The project is above Rs 20 crores and need to get through a review committee before being listed as languishing. We are expecting the approval from the committee in the next 20-days. This will end all the funding issues,” an official said.
The bridge is being constructed over Jhelum between Sheikhpora and Guzhama areas of this Central Kashmir district. Besides connecting these two areas with each other, the bridge would serve as a vital connecting link between Bandipora and Ganderbal districts.
As per officials, the work faced disruption right from the beginning because of funds scarcity and the activities are halted for the last two years owing to non-payment of pending dues. “The project authority has not released the funds for the work that has been previously completed,” an official said.
He continued the work was handed over to Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) in 2011 with a project cost of over Rs 20 crores but the scarcity of funds marred the project.
The locals said that construction work started shortly after the foundation stone was laid and some pillars were also constructed in the ensuing years, but the project was abandoned due to unknown reasons.
They lamented the Government’s lax approach towards the construction of the ‘vital connecting link’ has delayed its completion. “In the absence of the bridge, the locals are forced to walk several kilometers to reach to the other side of the Jhelum, “Abdul Razaq, a local said.
In absence of the bridge, locals rued they are forced to risk their lives by boarding overcrowded fishing boats to cross the river. “The boats could prove fatal anytime. The patients, particularly expectant mothers, have to use the same boats to reach the other side for treatment, “Fazal Ahmad, a local said.
The locals said they have repeatedly asked the authority for the construction of the bridge, but it remains incomplete despite the passing of 10- years. “We have raised the issue with the successive Governments but to no avail. We have also approached the Governor’s administration but nothing has happened so far,” Mohammad Sultan, a local said.
Deputy General Manager JKPCC, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, told Excelsior that the work on the bridge would resume soon. “The bridge will be soon listed under languishing projects and that will end all the funding issues. Once the Government approves it, we will immediately issue fresh tenders of the pending work,” he said.
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