The incomplete bridges

A number of bridges, where construction work was started over a decade back, are yet to be thrown open. Because of their non-completion the local people are facing lot of inconvenience. One such bridge is at Androlla village in Rajouri district. After a footbridge over Rajouri Tawi was washed away in 2014 floods, construction work was started for a mortorable bridge.

Androlla village is some 15 kms from Rajouri town. The people of the village and its adjoining areas were using the footbridge to reach the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch National Highway. Thousands of people were affected. In 2014 and 2015 the concerned authorities decided to construct a mortorable bridge over Rajouri Tawi and subsequently the work was started; and it is yet not completed.

The residents have to use temporarily wooden stairs, made by them, to climb nearly 30 feet to reach the top of the bridge to cross Tawi. This is not the only bridge waiting completion for a long time now. The new Noor Jehan Bridge on river Jehlum is also incomplete. The bridge is aimed at reducing the traffic on the busy Qamarwari-Noorbagh road.

In view of its incomplete construction, the traffic continues to move on the old bridge causing traffic jamming during peak morning and evening hours. Secondly, the pedestrians too face problems while walking on the sides of the narrow bridge. Reports from several other areas say that work was started on bridges over rivers and nallahs but those were not completed. A tragic boat capsizing mishap occured at Gandbal area in Srinagar this year.

Several persons including school children died in the incident. The local residents at that time alleged that they had to cross the river in boats as the bridge on the river was not complete. They said the construction work was delayed citing on one reason or the other. After the mishap the construction work was again started.

The concerned authorities must take serious note of the demands of the people regarding completion of the incomplete bridges. This will help in preventing incidents of bost capsizing or drowning, save people from inconvenience.