Waseem Ahmad
SRINAGAR, July 17 : In yet another instance of the alleged official apathy, a gateway towards Eidgah area in Srinagar is awaiting its completion for last two years.
The construction of the gate was started in 2016 by the Tourism Department, however, two years have passed since the initiative was taken and it is yet to be completed.
As per locals, the construction work has been left midway with construction material scattered all over, posing risk to the commuters. “The construction work was started two years back and the pace of work was so fast at that time that we thought it might be completed within months but they left it midway due to unknown reasons. The construction material has been left there and it is scattered. It has been kept on road and footpaths which causes hurdles in our movement,” Ali Muhammad, a resident of Eidgah said. “The construction material including cement and iron bars were stolen from the spot but still authorities were least bothered about it”, he added.
Another local, Zahoor Ahmad said that the gate if completed would serve as a beautiful entrance point for Eidgah but non-seriousness attitude of the authorities has left the project in limbo. “One of the biggest congregations on Eid is held in Eidgah here and the gate would have served as a welcome spot for the people as well as Tourists but the authorities seems reluctant to complete the project. Even the construction material was stolen from the spot. However, the contractor was least bothered about it. I think he had received his share of funds that is why he did not care,” he said.
Abdul Qayoom Kirmani, Deputy Director, Tourism Department said that the construction of the gate was stopped due to the objection from the nearby CRPF camp. “One pillar of the gate has been completed and to construct the other pillar of the gate, we have to remove one of the bunkers of the CRPF camp. The objection from the camp halted the project as they did not allowed us to construct the other part of the gate, otherwise it would have been completed,” he said.
Kirmani said the matter was taken up with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar and the matter will be resolved soon.
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