14 years on vital Dogripora-Awantipora bridge awaits completion
Pulwama: Even after the lapse of 14 years, a vital bridge on river Jehlum at Dogripora in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district is awaiting completion.
Locals said that the foundation of the bridge was laid in 2006 during PDP-Congress regime, however, since then 14 years have passed and even 40 percent of the work hasn’t been completed yet.
Javaid Ahmad, Auqaf president of Dogripora village said that over the years, scores of men and women have drowned while crossing Jehlum through a boat in absence of a bridge.
“Such accidents could have been avoided, had this bridge been completed on time,” he said, adding that the bridge would connect dozens of villages with national highway and over 50 villages with Railway station Panzgam Pulwama.
He added that project is under JKPCC and every year they hardly work for 15 to 20 days and leave it, due to which the locals facing lot of problems.
Shahid Ahmad, another local said that they have knocked the doors of every authority in this regard but on ground nothing happened.
“Few weeks before we met an advisor of Lt Governor who assured that work will start soon, however his promise like others also proved hoax on ground,” he said.
The locals once again requested tge higher ups to look into the issue and resume work on this bridge so that locals can heave a sigh of relief.
On contacting Deputy Managing Director JKPCC Er Masood Gagoo, he said the project was kept in languishing projects and was recently approved by concerned commissioner secretary.
He said tenders for the remaining part of the work have been floated two days before and the process will take a week at least after that work on this bridge will start again.
Jahangeer Ganaie
