Jahangeer Ganaie

Delay in reconstructing Zainapora Bridge leaves residents suffering

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Shopian: Despite elapsing of four years, the authorities have failed to reconstruct the vital Zainapora Bridge that was damaged in 2014 floods.
The bridge over Tongri Nallah at Zainapora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district is just 45 meters long and connects Zainapora belt with district Shopian, but the administration has left the people of the belt to suffer since last four years as the construction of the Bridge was not completed.
Damaged in September 2014 floods, the bridge is being rebuilt under flood damaged infrastructure (Flood Bridges) plan by Roads and Buildings (R&B) department.
Locals said that reconstruction work over the bridge was started in 2015 but the government has utterly failed to reconstruct it despite repeated assurances from the concerned department.
“Four years elapsed since the work on this vital small bridge was started, the bridge is still incomplete,” said a local, adding that “we face immense hardships for reaching the main highway.”
“The diversion through which vehicles are plying has very narrow due to which we get stuck in traffic jams for hours,” said the local, adding that the sub district hospital Zainapora is also located on diversion road, thereby causing immense problems to the patients.
“The construction of the bridge was started soon after the floods hit Kashmir but the project was delayed due to problems in land acquisition, 2016 unrest and an issue with PDD department,” said an official of R&B department, adding that the bridge was being constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 398.96 lakhs and over 80 % work has been already completed.
Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Advocate Aijaz Mir said the work on this bridge was delayed due to lack of funds.
However, he said that the funds are available now and the construction of the bridge will be completed upto December end this year.


Jahangeer Ganaie

Jahangeer Ganaie is a reporter and covers regional news and can be contacted [email protected]

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