Darbagh Shopian residents demand construction of bridge over Nallah Tongri
Shopian: The residents of Darbagh Watchi area in the Zainapora subdivision of South Kashmir’s Shopian district have reiterated their demand for the construction of a bridge over Nallah Tongri, a vital connectivity point that has been in a state of disrepair since 2014.
Locals said the existing bridge was severely damaged during the 2014 floods and has since been unsafe for regular use.
Currently, only light motor vehicles can cross it, while heavy vehicles are unable to pass, causing significant hardships for the residents.
“We are facing a lot of problems due to the absence of a safe bridge, especially during emergencies,” said Altaf Ahmad, a resident of Darbagh.
“The bridge is tilted to one side, making it very risky for vehicles to cross. If the government does not intervene immediately, it could prove fatal.”He said.
Residents allege that despite contacting every relevant authority over the years, no concrete steps have been taken to resolve the issue.
“The government has spent lakhs on various projects elsewhere, but has failed to construct a concrete bridge here,” said Zahoor Ahmad, another local resident.
They pointed out that the construction of a new bridge would benefit hundreds of households by connecting them to nearby villages, improving access to essential services.
“We have knocked on the doors of every authority, participated in every government programme and cast our votes with the hope of development, but repeated assurances have proved to be hollow promises,” residents said.
Pinning their hopes on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, CM, MLA Showkat Hussian Ganaie and Deputy Commissioner Shopian, the residents have once again appealed for immediate intervention to address their long-pending demand.
They urged authorities to initiate construction of a concrete bridge at the earliest to provide much-needed relief to the area.
