Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 18: High Court today directed Government to consult Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) about the viability of increasing height of the bridge which was scheduled to be constructed parallel to Abdullah Bridge at Rajbagh here.
The court has already put on hold the construction of the bridge by passing status quo order as construction of the bridge was out of plan. Today the Government in order to seek permission for resuming construction of the bridge displayed a sketch, saying that increasing the height of the bridge at its original place is not possible and instead showed a green spot earmarked for construction of the parallel bridge near Abdullah bridge, which has already been stayed.
Court after detailed deliberation on the issue directed Advocate General to furnish the report from ERA with regard to the feasibility of raising height of the bridge to minimize the disturbance of traffic flow at the junction.
Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey during the proceeding of the matter observed: “We are not against the construction but you cannot construct a bridge which will devastate a whole system”.
Court while referring to snail’s pace of work of JKPCC projects observed, “why other agencies are not given the contract as in of Delhi many bridges are built in a time bound period.”
It is mentioned here that the facet of proposed skewed bridge along river Jhelum at Presentation Convent School at Rajbagh which is under construction was changed by the authorities and a new bridge out of plan was erected parallel to the Abdullah Bridge.
Court in this connection had sought affidavit from Chief Secretary of the State indicating why the nature of bridge build along river Jhelum has been changed.
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