Various parts of old town Baramulla observed shutdown on Tuesday against the delay in the completion of SRTC bridge here.
The aggrieved people also demanded action against thedepartment of PMGSY for using “substandard” material on Azad Gunj – Drangbalroad, which soon after its completion developed cracks and potholes.
The SRTC bridge connecting the old town with the civil linearea, according to locals, was damaged during the 2014 floods. The authoritieslater decided to construct a new bridge keeping in view its importance, thelocals said.
However, the “inadequate” funding by the government for thebridge often led to the delay in its construction, the locals said.
“Though the major portion of the bridge has been completed,due to non availability of funds the construction work has again got affected,”they said.
“The authorities have not released funds for the last one year,”complained Sheikh Imran, contractor.
The protesting business community of old town Baramulla saidthat in the absence of the bridge they have suffered economically.
“The local population are using boats to cross over theriver Jhelum which poses serious threat. We appeal to the authorities that thefunds should not become hurdle in its completion,” said Ishfaq Nabi, generalsecretary, traders’ union Iqbal Market old town Baramulla.
The locals also complained about the “dilapidated” conditionof the 4-kilometre Azad Gunj- Drangbal road, “which soon after beingmacadamised in 2018, developed cracks and potholes after season’s firstsnowfall hit the area.”
“Just three months after the macadamisation of the road, itscondition started to worsen. It is now again in a shambles. It seems there isno accountability for the engineers and the contractors,” said Ghulam Hassan, alocal resident.