Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 14: High Court today sought a detailed report from Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) on bridge constructed at Rajbagh over river Jhelum.
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 court was informed by Poloview Traders Association as intervener into the matter through senior counsel B A Bashir that the bridge was scheduled to be constructed as motorable bridge as per its plan but for unknown reasons it has been converted into a pedestrian bridge.
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 is being constructed parallel to the Abdullah Bridge.
Advocate Bashir and senior counsel R A Jan submitted that when a PIL was filed way back in 2013 about the construction of the bridge Government admitted that it would ease out the traffic congestion in city and today Government is changing its nature.
On the other hand Advocate General stated that for making the bridge motorable its height has to be raised and in that case it would deface the vicinity of both sides of the river.
After perusal of report of ERA, Court said, it is not convinced and directed for fresh report on technical basis by next date detailing therein the feasibility in so far as height is concerned.
Court has already directed the concerned authorities to proceed ahead with the construction of the Skewed Bridge (but not Foot Bridge) as per original plan of 1981 by completing it and throwing it open for the traffic use.
The suo-moto cognizance was taken by the court in a media report highlighting how the State Government was hell-bent upon destroying the ecology of Srinagar city and throw to ruins the historical heritage site-the Emporium Gardens-besides abandoning a well thought of and almost half-complete engineering plan at the cost of huge sums and showing scorn to a decision of High Court in another Public Interest Litigation.
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