Rajouri's Androlla Bridge: Incomplete even after 10 years

Rajouri, Aug 19: Ten years is probably not an adequate time period for Jammu and Kahsmir Governments' Public Works Department (PWD) to complete a bridge project in Rajouri area where people have now started to use a locally prepared wooden stair to climb the bridge and to cross the river.

The people consider the construction of bridge as a never ending dream for the area. Androlla is a village located at a distance of 15 kms from Rajouri town and a foot bridge over Rajouri Tawi in the area got washed away in 2014 floods disconnecting Androlla, Khardinu, Potha villages from Jammu Rajouri Poonch national highway and affecting atleast 4,000 souls.

Sensing trouble of villagers, the Jammu and Kashmir Government in 2014-15 financial year took up a project for construction of a motorable bridge to connect the area with Jammu- Rajouri- Poonch National Highway while later a project for construction of road referred to as Potha - Androlla road was also taken.

However, even after almost 10 years, the Governments' Public Works Department (PWD) has failed to complete this bridge project leaving people in a state of hopelessness.

"With no bridge, the people from Androlla, Khardinu and areas of Potha are with no option left than to cross Rajouri Tawi since the day our foot bridge got washed away," said Kartik Kessar, a young man of village who also informed that atleast six villagers of the area have lost their lives in last one decade in incidents of drowning or washing away while crossing the river.

He added, " We are stuck in a situation where there is no second option than to cross river even during monsoon days when water of river flows in full strength and can even wash away a building."

Barkat Hussain, a 50 years old man from the area while climbing a wooden stairs kept alongside incomplete part of bridge said that the population of this area decided not to cross the river anymore and kept this wooden, locally prepared stair.

" We use this stair to climb a height of atleast 30 feet and reach the completed stretch of bridge and then walk over it to reach at Jammu- Rajouri- Poonch highway," Barkat said adding that climbing this stair is a risky affair as anyone can slip and fall in pit with death is confirm in this fall.

While climbing this risky stairs with her minor girl in lap, Vikram Kumar, a local resident of Androlla asked Government to give in written that it shall be responsible for any loss of life after falling from this stair.

"We waited for 10 long years to see this bridge getting completed and kept on crossing the river in this duration but lost atleast half a dozen lives with many were fortunate enough to escape the clutches of death despite getting washed away while crossing river," Vikram said who said that now the wooden stair is second death trap for population of area.

“We are in a situation where death trap is laid on all our sides and Government is least bothered about our plight,” he further said while lambasting over Jammu and Kashmir Government for leaving entire population of three village on God's mercy.

"If we cannot even get a safe passage over river than what else can we expect from Government," said 62 years old Kirna Devi wife of Sham Lal resident of Khardinu.

Devi is a patient of diabetes, hyper-tension and is on medication from a doctor from Sunderbani who have advised her not to climb stairs as she gets panic attack but on ground, she has not second option than to climb these stairs of deaths to reach her house.

"We hand-folded place our request before Government to construct this bridge and to give us a dignified life," she further said.

Superintendent Engineer of Public Works Department (PWD) Rajouri, Er Devi Dayal said that most of the portion of this bridge stand completed and even the approach road will be blacktopped days but a small portion on one side is incomplete and there is some problem of technical specification.

"The bridge project was taken up in three parts with 135 meters span bridge is complete while right side approach road is also complete except blacktopped which will be done soon," said E. Devi Dayal.

The Superintendent Engineer however said that the problem is with one side approach considered as left side approach as earlier vented causeway were proposed for the portion but later designer proposed for construction of 20 meters span bridge.

"The approach road of left side is also constructed but issue is with this 20 meters span for which we have established communication with Government to get nod for construction of 20 meters span bridge on left side," he further said.

Er Devi Dayal added, "As and when we received approach from Government the pending work will be taken up and bridge will be completed."