(Kaloosa) Bandipora, Oct 23: Transporters, traders and locals here are up in arms against the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) for inordinate delay in finishing the construction of vital Kaloosa Bridge.
 The locals said construction of the bridge was started in July 2008 by the ERA. Officials said the bridge was scheduled to be completed in three years at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore. “The deadline is nearing completion. Ironically, the ERA has even failed to erect base pillars of the bridge,” sources said.
 The locals said they had many times approached the local legislator and concerned officials. “However, our requests met with deaf ears. The traffic jams have affected our normal life and business. We appeal the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to look into the matter and expedite construction of the Bridge,” the locals said.
 They state that delay in the Bridge’s construction leads to traffic jam for hours causing them immense inconvenience.
 "Due to incompletion of the Kaloosa Bridge, we have to pass through makeshift Bailley Bridge. The traffic policemen on duty act as mute spectator to the traffic jams,” said Irshad Ahmed, a commuter.
 However, the policemen specially deputed on duty to man the traffic near the Bridge claim that despite repeated orders, commuters don’t keep their vehicle in single lane. The cops also blamed the dilapidated condition of roads in Kaloosa for the traffic mess.
 “Many times even the vehicle of Deputy Commissioner Bandipora was stranded in traffic jams. Sometimes police squads are deputed near the makeshift bridge to pave smooth way for VIPs,” the locals said. 
 Assistant Engineer ERA Jamsheed Ahmed claims that 80 percent of the Bridge’s super structure has been completed. “Some equipment is still lying outside the State that is why the work is proceeding at a slow pace. As soon as the equipment reaches here, we will expedite the work,” he said.
 However, he passed the buck for traffic jams on the traffic police. “We have informed the concerned department to allow traffic in a single line to avoid the traffic jams. It is their duty to manage it.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST