The state administration has decided to consider reconversion of Rajbagh footbridge over Jhelum into a motorable one, as the Governor is seeking expert opinion with a view to ease flow of traffic in southern side of the city.
Originally planned for vehicular traffic and popularly known as skewed bridge, it was constructed at whopping cost of Rs 12 crore, converted at the eleventh hour into a footbridge by the PDP-BJP regime.
“The proposal to re-convert Rajbagh footbridge into a motorable one is under active consideration of the government,” said a senior public works department official.
“Governor’s Administration has sought expert opinion on this matter, which is likely to give a nod to reconversion,” he said.
The official said people from various walks of life have also made representations to concerned officers seeking the bridge be made good for vehicul;ar traffic.
An engineer who was part of construction process of Rajbaghbridge said there will be no problem in re-converting the bridge into a motorable one.
“It’s got the foundation of a motorable bridge and its design is also suitable for carrying vehicular movement,” he said.
“It was a shock to us when at the last moment of finalising its construction we were asked to make it a footbridge. It meant wastage of Rs 12 crore as footbridge wouldnRs 1 to 2 crore.”
Recently, a delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, led by JavedTenga, met advisor to Governor, BB Vyas, who assured them their suggestion of converting the bridge into a motorable one would be actively considered.
“We have another meeting (scheduled) with advisor to the Governor regarding this issue in which top officials of Public works department will be present. It is likely that they will take a favorable decision in this regard which will mitigate public concern,” Tenga said.
Experts and engineers have sought intervention of Governor N N Vohra to convert the footbridge near Presentation Convent School into a motorable bridge as was initially proposed.
According to a survey carried out by RITES, the 120-metre-long bridge with three spans will connect the busy Polo View road with Raj Bagh near the School across Jehlum. The bridge will help in reducing the traffic load on Abdullah Bridge where traffic often jams during peak hours.
The J&K chapter of the Institution of Engineers India (IEI) had also pitched for making the bridge motorable, stating that the government’s move to convert it into a pedestrian bridge would result in wastage of money.
Engineers from various developmental sectors had also recommended that “motorable bridge as per the original proposal should be constructed with a soffit level of 1589 metres instead of 1590.30 meters.”
The engineers said a motorable bridge was needed to ease traffic congestion in the city.
“This bridge will also act as a rescue platform from the Disaster Management angle and should in any case be constructed as a motorable bridge,” one of them said.