Kupwara: The residents of Tulwari and other adjacent areas are protesting against the Roads & Buildings Department (R&B) for failing to complete the under-construction bridge over NallahMawer, resulting in hardships to the inhabitants.
They said that the bridge sanctioned 12 years ago had been left half way due to reasons best known to the concerned authorities.
The residents said that the bridge once completed would be a big boost to horticulture sector of the area and would connect several villages of Langate tehsil and Mawer area.
“With the completion of this bridge, it will significantly shorten the distance between several villages and help commuters reach their respective destinations in the shortest possible time,” said a local, AatifQayoom.
The residents said that following repeated pleas to the successive dispensations, the bridge was sanctioned, but after 12 years, only a few pillars had been constructed which speaks about the callous approach of the officials at the helm of affairs.
“At the outset, construction work of the bridge took a rapid pace but then with the passage of several months, it dropped considerably and later, neither the men and machinery nor the concerned officials could be seen any more,” said another resident.
The residents said that they went from pillar to post for redressal of their genuine grievance but to no avail.
Now hey have sought immediate intervention of Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir in this matter.
An official at the R&B division Handwara said that the bridge was being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crore and due to non-availability of funds, the bridge could not be completed.
He said that the project had now been kept under languishing projects, and hopefully would be completed this year.
Executive Engineer R&B, Handwara, Sohail Ahmad said he would visit the site on Friday and have the first-hand experience of the project.