Reborn on the Jhelum: Revamped Amira Kadal Bridge blends tradition with modernity

Srinagar, Jan 20: As the river Jhelum flowed quietly beneath a cloudy sky, Amira Kadal today found its old rhythm again!

The historic bridge, reborn as a pedestrian footbridge, was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha  amid fanfare with a spontaneous festival of phones and first footsteps.

For the historic city accustomed to squeezing space across congested crossings, the opening of the wooden footbridge marks not just a new passage, but the return of a public space.

Officials said that redevelopment of the bridge was done at a cost of around Rs 7.7 crore under the Srinagar Smart City Project. The bridge now links Lal Chowk with Goni Khan market, Maharaja Bazar and the adjacent stretches of Hari Singh High Street.

Officials said the project was envisaged to ease the heavy pedestrian load on the parallel bridge, which daily carries vendors, shoppers and traffic in uneasy coexistence.

“This bridge was conceived primarily to take the pedestrian pressure off the existing motorable bridge and to make movement in the city centre smoother. At the same time, we wanted it to be more than a crossing. It had to be a public place,” Chief Engineer of SSCL Qayoom Kirmani told Greater Kashmir.

Officials said that the intention is visible in every detail. Built in wood, using what officials described as high-quality timber, the bridge carries stone steps that lend it a heritage character. On the day, potted plants lined the walkways with a hi-tech lighting system.

Historically, Amira Kadal has always been a bridge of transitions. The present structure rises on the remains of the oldest Amira Kadal crossing that once connected the commercial heart of Srinagar. First built by the Afghan Governor, the original bridge was constructed in the 1700s by Amir Khan Sher Jawan during the Durrani period and was named after the same governor. Over the nearly 250 years, the bridge has stood through Afghan, Dogra rule and British influence.

As the ribbon was cut, people thronged the deck, with phones making videos that quickly flooded social media.

“I came just to see it with my own eyes. This will be a good public space. For youngsters, it will be a place to spend time, not just a way to cross to the markets,” said Faiq Ahmad, a local.

CEO Srinagar Smart City said the bridge would become vital for tourism and everyday urban life. “This is a positive step and one of the main remaining projects under Smart City that has finally been completed. It is our responsibility to maintain this asset, and equally the responsibility of people to take care of public property,” he said.

Traders in the adjoining markets welcomed the development. “We see this as a positive step as it will open space for trade and increase footfall in Goni Khan, Maharaji Bazar and Hari Singh High Street. But the bridge should not be enclosed or turned into a vending zone,” said Manzoor Malik, general secretary of the Goni Khan Traders Association.