Inordinate delay hits completion of Noorbagh-Qamarwari bridge

Srinagar, Apr 8: In what could be one the most delayed development works in the summer capital, the much-awaited Noorbagh-Qamarwari project continues to linger on even after passing over a decade.

The project, which was started to prevent traffic gridlocks and give better connectivity to north Kashmir with Srinagar, has added to traffic woes due to continued delays.

The project that is being executed by the R&B department missed several deadlines over the years. Traffic volume has increased multiple times since the project was initiated in 2011. The bridge, spanning 127 meters at Qamarwari and connecting Noorbagh and other localities across the river Jehlum has been facing inordinate delays.

“I was not even in the legal age of driving since I saw the bridge work initiated. Today commuting through this area has become so inconvenient. Every year, we hear the bridge will be completed, but on the ground, it is still lingering. This was supposed to make our travel easier, but rather, it has turned into a major traffic bottleneck,” Muhammad Junaid, a local, said.

The commuters said that most of the roads in Downtown have been dug up, and amid the Eid rush, traffic jams in the vicinity of the bridge have become a norm.

Since the inception of the project, several Chief engineers and concerned SEs have taken over the project, but so far no one has been able to complete the bridge and open it to the public.

“Amid increasing traffic flow, projects like these, which were supposed to provide better connectivity, are lingering. It is a nightmare to navigate through these unfinished projects, including this one. We hope that we will witness the completion of this project in our lifetime,” said Farooq Ahmad, a commuter.

A senior official from the R&B department said that it has been a decade since the project started. He said that over these years, multiple hindrances delayed the project, and most of the issues were cleared.

“There was a major issue of clearing structures, including shops. The land acquisition and other issues delayed the project. We have cleared all the issues, and by June this year, the bridge will be completed,” said an official.