Increasing gap, cracks in viaduct at Dalgate poses threat to commuters
Srinagar, Jan 23: An increasing gap in a portion of a viaduct at Dalgate is posing serious risk to commuters.
The locals of Dalgate and adjoining areas said that the viaduct has a massive gap that can lead to major accidents if the issue is not addressed immiediately.
The aggrieved said that the bridge connecting Khayam Chowk and Dalgate has a sidewalk going along. They said that it has a major gap which has spread across the whole bridge.
“This whole stretch is connecting the busy Khanyar area and Dalgate. There is a huge cavity in the bridge where one can easily have a mishap. This is a busy stretch, and authorities should ensure that it is fixed in time to avoid any problems,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a pedestrian.
The locals in the area alleged that the gap in the bridge has been widening, and kids or elderly walking via the bridge can fall into it, causing a major mishap.
“When heavy vehicles pass through here, the whole structure shakes, and we have noticed that the gap is getting bigger. Even you can see the water body through the gap below. Authorities should do a spot visit and check it. If there are any structural damages, this is a life hazard for us,” said another local.
The locals also said that the road near the bridge at Badyari crossing has caved in. They said that such issues have caused inconvenience to commuters as well, and they want authorities to address it without any delay.
“Along the separate section of the viaduct, there is some problem. Authorities need to conduct safety audit of the viaduct,” said a local.
Sajad Naquib, Chief Engineer R&B, said that they will fix the issue within a week. “Till then we are doing temporary restoration. Over the period, there has been macadamisation, and due to displacement, this has happened. We will ensure to fix it in around a week, and till then, we are doing temporary restoration so that no inconvenience is not caused,” Naquib said.