Ganderbal: The construction work on one of the vital bridges in the Ganderbal district has been halted for the last several years, causing an inordinate delay in its completion.
The bridge is also known as Guzhama-Shilvat Bridge and is of immense importance as it connects Ganderbal district to Bandipora district.
The executing agency of the bridge construction is Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Company (JKPCC).Locals said that there has been an inordinate delay in its completion.
They said that the construction work of the bridge started in 2011 and the work continued for four years.
However, since 2014 there has been no work on it.
Locals said that the work on the bridge sanctioned 11 years ago had been left halfway due to reasons best known to the concerned authorities.
The residents said that the bridge once completed would ease the suffering of the people and connect them to the main highway.
Local Sarpanch Muhammad Sultan said that in absence of a bridge, the local population was suffering every day.
“We are suffering immensely due to the non-availability of the bridge here. We met and pleaded to higher authorities in the past but nothing has been done so far to resume the work on the Guzhama-Shilvat Bridge,” he said.
Sultan said that the locals use boats to cross the stream to reach their destinations.
“With the completion of this bridge, it will significantly shorten the distance and help commuters reach their respective destinations in the shortest possible time,” he said.
Another resident of the area said that since 2011, many bridges and roads had been completed in the district.
“However, the successive governments and the authorities have neglected the Guzhama-Shilvat Bridge,” he said. “A huge population is dependent on this vital bridge. They are facing hardships every day due to its non-completion.”
Locals urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration and Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal to look into their grievances for early redress.