As the closure of cross-LoC trade via Salamabad in Baramulla district of Kashmir for over a month has resulted in huge business losses, the divisional commissioner Kashmir has taken up the issue of repair of Kaman Post Bridge with Army.
The intra-Kashmir trade between J&K andPakistan-administered Kashmir via Salamabad, Uri was suspended on March 8 forcarrying repairs of Kaman Post Bridge. However, the repair work is yet to becompleted which is resulting in huge business losses to 240 cross-LoC tradersdoing trade on this route.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, divisional commissioner KashmirBaseer Ahmad Khan said, “I have taken up the issue of repair of bridgewith concerned Corps Commander of Army. We are optimistic that work will be completedsoon so that cross-LoC trade and travel services will resume at theearliest.”
The prolonged closure of trade and bus services betweendivided parts of Kashmir has caused huge losses to traders besides causingdistress to families who frequently use the intra-Kashmir bus service.
The Valley’s apex chamber, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce andIndustries has taken up the issue of delay in carrying repairs on Kaman PostBridge with Governor as well as divisional administration.
“It is really unfortunate that the cross Loc trade andbus services are closed for last more than a month. We have taken up this issuewith governor as well as divisional commissioner Kashmir,” said presidentKCCI, Sheikh Ashiq.
Vice president, Cross LoC Traders Association, SamiullahBhat said that the government is using dilly dally tactics in restoring thetrade.
“We have pleaded before every official whomatters inthe administrative hierarchy in the state, but more than a month has passed theminor repairs are yet to be completed.” Earlier, the cross LoC trade andbus service were suspended due to pending repair works of the bridge.
“Due to the sustained use of Kaman Aman Setu for cross-LoCtrade for a long period, the bridge has suffered some damage which requiresimmediate repairs. Inspection of the bridge was carried out by representativesof GREF (a border roads organisation wing) supported by army engineers on March8, 2019, which indicates that the bridge needs urgent repairs and maintenanceto ensure its longevity,” an official communication had stated earlier.
The repair work will require 10-15 days and the tradeservice will be suspended accordingly, it had said.
In October 2008, India and Pakistan announced commencementof the intra-Kashmir trade between divided parts of Kashmir as a “confidencebuilding measure”.
The cross-LoC bus service was officially launched on April7, 2005.