24 years on, Tumina-Chowkibal Bridge still a distant dream

Kupwara, Sep 01: The residents of Tumina, Chowkibal and other adjacent villages in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district expressed strong resentment against the authorities for the inordinate delay in the completion of the bridge in their locality, causing inconveniences to the residents.

The residents said that the construction of this bridge was started in the year 2000 but after the passage of over two decades, the bridge was yet to be completed.

The bridge was to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore. However, despite spending more than half of the allocated funds, the project has remained incomplete, with only pillars and partial slabs in place.

“The delay in the completion of this important project is causing immense problems to the inhabitants, including women and school-going children living on either side of the Kehmil Nallah,” locals said.

The residents said that the bridge once completed would connect several villages including Chowkibal, Reddi, Zuna Rishi, Tumina, Marsari, Rangwar, Harfada, Ramhal, Hachamarg, Fullmarg, and Karnah.

“The completion of this bridge will significantly shorten the distance between several villages and help commuters reach their respective destinations in the shortest possible time. It can also serve as a by-pass for Karnah-bound traffic,” said a resident of the area. “We are fed up with the slow pace of work and our hopes of seeing this bridge completed have died down now. Don’t know how much more time it will take for the authorities to complete this vital bridge,” Mumtaz Ahmad, a local said.

The residents have sought immediate intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in this regard so that the hardships being faced by them come to an end.