Authorities have put in cold storage a directive by former governor N N Vohara to make Rajbagh skewed bridge motorable, even after its technical feasibility for easing traffic movement in the capital city was established.
“The proposal to make Rajbagh skewed bridge motorable had convinced almost everyone in the administration after PDP-BJP government fell. However, since then there has not been any forward movement in this regard,” said a senior public works department official.
He said an advisor to Governor had assured the delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries that bridge would be made motorable.
“However, after new administration took over there has not been any talk about it,” the official said.
“Officials give report clearing the conversion of this bridge to motorable one as it has the foundation and pliers made according to perquisite criterion of motorable bridge.”
The footbridge over Jhelum near Presentation Convent School was originally and planned for vehicular movement to reduce traffic congestion in southern Srinagar.
However, despite spending around Rs 12 crore on the bridge, it was later converted into a footbridge by the PDP-BJP coalition government.
An engineer who was part of construction process of the Skewed Bridge said there will be no problem in re-converting it into a motorable one.
“It has got foundation of a motorable bridge and its design is also suitable for carrying vehicular movement,” he said.
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 across Jhelum. The bridge will help in reducing the traffic load on Abdullah Bridge which frequently witnesses traffic 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 say a motorable bridge was needed to ease traffic congestion in the city.