Pulwama villages suffer as PMGSY bridge remains incomplete for over two years
Residents demand urgent intervention, say daily life crippled
Pulwama: The residents of Mirgund Thokerpora to Drabgam area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have expressed strong resentment over the inordinate delay in the completion of a bridge sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) scheme more than two years ago.
Locals said while the approach roads on both sides of the bridge have already been macadamized, the bridge itself stands incomplete, rendering the entire project meaningless.
“The contractor is working at such a slow pace that if things continue like this, it will take another decade to see this bridge completed,” said Abdul Rashid, a local farmer. “What is the use of having good roads when the bridge—the main link—remains half-done?”
The incomplete bridge has become a major hurdle for daily commuters, school-going children, patients, and farmers. Residents said the situation has worsened to the point where even emergency services struggle to reach the area on time.
“Just last week, a patient from our village had to be carried on shoulders for nearly two kilometers because the ambulance couldn’t cross,” said Mohammad Ashraf, another resident. “This is not just inconvenience; it is risking lives.”
Farmers of the area also voiced their concerns, saying the transportation of agricultural produce is being badly affected. “We have to take long detours to reach nearby mandis. With apples and vegetables being perishable, delays mean direct losses for us,” said Ghulam Nabi, an orchardist from Drabgam.
Residents have now appealed to the authorities to take immediate note of the issue. “We humbly request the government to send a team for on-ground inspection, fix responsibility, and set a strict deadline for completion,” said the locals.
They added that their patience has run out after waiting for over two years. “We were hopeful that the PMGSY scheme would connect us better, but the incomplete bridge has instead disconnected us even more,” said Irshad Ahmad, a college student.
They have sought immediate attention of Deputy commissioner Pulwama and other authorities in this regard
