Residents of Langate area face hardships due to incomplete bridge for 16 years

Kupwara, Nov 24: Residents of Tulwari and other adjacent areas are up in arms against Roads & Buildings Department (R&B) for failing to complete the under-construction bridge over Nallah Mawer resulting in hardships to the inhabitants.

Residents said that the bridge which was sanctioned in 2008 has never remained priority for the concerned officials, with the result the construction was yet to be completed even after the passage of sixteen long years. They said that the bridge once completed would be a big boost to the horticulture sector and connect several villages of Langate Tehsil and Mawer area.

“With the completion of this bridge it would significantly shorten the distance between several villages and will help commuters to reach their respective destinations in the shortest possible time,” said a local Bilal Ahamd.

They said after repeated pleas to successive dispensations, the bridge was sanctioned. But even after sixteen years, the bridge has not been completed.

“ In the beginning construction work of the bridge took a rapid pace but then with the passage of several months, it dropped considerably and later neither the men and machinery nor the concerned officials could be seen any more,” said another local of the area.

Residents said that they went from pillar to post for the redressal of their genuine grievance but to no avail. They have sought immediate intervention of MLA Langate Shiekh Khursheed in this matter to get their grievance redressed. Executive Engineer Roads and Buildings Division Langate Gulzar Ahmad Mir, however, told Greater Kashmir that the work on approach roads of the bridge was going on smoothly as of now.

On being asked why the bridge was not completed during the last sixteen years he cited reasons of non-availability of funds.

He said that a new tender was floated this year for completion of the bridge and by the end of 2025.