After inordinate delay, Gandbal-Batwara footbridge thrown open for public

Srinagar, Dec 14: After inordinate delays, the Gandbal-Batwara footbridge was thrown open for public today much to the relief of locals.

Work on the bridge was resumed after years of delay when a boat carrying 19 passengers from Gandbal towards Batwara in Srinagar capsized, killing nine people.

The locals blamed the incomplete footbridge for the incident. Meanwhile, the locals have heaved a sigh of relief over the completion of the footbridge.

“Now our children won’t have to take dangerous boat rides,” said Farooq Ahmad a local.

“We are glad that the bridge has been opened. We suffered the loss of precious lives due to the delay in the completion of the bridge. This project was lingering for years, and following the tragedy, the work was accelerated,” he added.

The locals said that they had to take long routes and risk themselves while crossing Jhelum via boat amid inclement weather.

“We had to reach the city center areas via Lasjan or Mehjoor Nagar, which used to be very hectic. Even Auto rickshaws that we boarded had to take long routes. During medical emergencies, we had to face many hardships in the absence of a footbridge,” said another local.

The locals also demanded that fencing be carried on the bridge so that the children would feel safe while using the bridge. They also appealed to authorities to ensure a better lighting system on both ends of the bridge so that it is convenient to use the bridge at night.

“After the boat tragedy, we worried for our children. We hope fencing will also be added to this footbridge so that locals, especially children, are safe. We still have one of our loved ones missing, and we don’t want any more lives to be lost,” said Taja, another local whose son is still missing after the April tragedy.

The locals said that “it took a tragedy to wake up officials about the importance of the footbridge in the area.” “The tragedy should serve as an example of how important connectivity is for residents of any area. “Incomplete bridges over water bodies should be completed to prevent Gandbal-like incidents,” they added.