Ganderbal: Much to the inconvenience of the commuters caused by the frequent traffic jams, the authorities have failed to pace up the work of the vital bridge over nallah Sindh near Wayil in Ganderbal district.
According to locals, at present, the single-lane Bailey bridge over nallah Sindh near Wayil connects Srinagar with Ladakh.
It often witnesses frequent traffic jams, causing inconvenience to the commuters. Locals said that many a times vehicles are seen stuck on one side for hours and the Traffic Police faces a difficult time to manage the traffic.
The bridge was constructed more than two decades ago by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) after the old wooden bridge got damaged in floods in 1992.
Though under the World Bank’s Jammu Tawi Flood Reconstruction Project (JTFRP), Rs 23 crore were sanctioned for the bridge, however the authorities failed to pace up the work on it. Locals said that in November last year, the pre-construction work including excavation and dismantling of the old abutments of Wayil bridge was started. However, the construction work was stooped soon, and though it resumed a month ago, work is going on at a snails pace.
Tourists use this bridge to visit several famous tourist and pilgrim destinations including Sonamarg, Naranag and Amarnath shrine situated in different areas of the district.
“The Bailey bridge is so narrow that a pedestrian has to return if a heavy vehicle is crossing it,” said a local, Showket Ahmad.
“Constructing a permanent concrete bridge over nallah Sindh near Wayil in place of the temporary steel bridge was our long-pending demand,” said a local, adding that given the traffic, it should be a two-way concrete bridge.
Executive Engineer R&B, Ganderbal, Zafar A Qureshi told Greater Kashmir that the work on the Wayilbridge had resumed.
He said that the pace of the work would be expedited in the coming days, and a visible development would be seen after two months.