Anantnag: A two-way road bridge over the Jhelum river in Pandrethan on Srinagar outskirts, meant to connect dozens of localities, remains far from completion more than 9 years after work on it began.
The bridge, if completed, would have connected areas of Srinagar city like Lasjan, Soibugh, Padshahibagh and some others to the old national highway, while people living in areas like Athwajan, Batwara, Sonwar, Pantha Chowk and some other areas would also have benefited.
Keeping the importance of this link in view, a 120-meter-bridge was sanctioned in 2009, following which the work was taken up by Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC).
“Work was started in 2012 and has been going on ever since,” a source in JKPCC told Kashmir Reader. “It was expected to be completed within three years but is not complete yet.”
People in the area lament that the government has been lax about the project and the pace of work has been too slow. “The bridge once completed would have saved us time and money in travelling,” a resident of Soibugh area told Kashmir Reader.
He said that the government seems to have abandoned the project as there has been no work going on for a long time now. “Besides, they are yet to construct any approach roads to the bridge, which will take another few years,” locals said.
An official privy to the details of the project told Kashmir Reader that almost 85 percent work on the bridge has been completed. “The work however has been moving at a snail’s pace because of shortage of funds for the project. The funds have been coming in trickles,” the official said, requesting not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Kashmir Reader talked to Shokwat Ahmad Dar, the General Manager of JKPCC, who said that a fresh Detailed Project Report for the bridge has been sent for administrative approval and response is awaited.
“The site of this particular bridge was changed from near GB Pant Hospital to its present site. It took around 3 years to sort out the new site and that led to cost escalation of the bridge,” Dar said.
He said that the money which was earlier estimated to be spent on the bridge has already been spent. “Now it is the escalation part which is the problem. We have sent a new DPR and hopefully it will get a nod soon, so that work is resumed on the bridge,” Dar said.

Suhail A Shah