Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 29: It is more than three years since Shopian-Batpora bridge in South Kashmir’s Shopian district was washed away in the devastating floods of September 2014 but authorities are yet to rebuild it.
Locals of the area said in the absence of a proper bridge, thousands of people living in more than 30 villages are forced to cross the Rambiara stream through a makeshift road. In order to maintain the connectivity the authorities have laid tree trunks and large stones on streambed as it remains almost dry except for rainy season. “It is very difficult for the vehicles to cross the uneven road and several vehicles have broken while ply on the road strech”, Rafiq Ahmad, a local said.
“With the onset of monsoon, the swollen stream would wash away a large portion of the road, leaving the villagers with the option to take a long detour to reach the nearest motorable road”, he said.
Locals of the affected villages including Narpora, Zawoora, Kathwalan, Gatipora, Pahlipora said they have requested for the restoration of the bridge several times but to no avail.
Abdul Aziz, Executive Engineer Roads and Buildings department when contacted said that work on the first phase of the bridge is going on and it will be thrown open within next two months. “Within next one-two months the bridge will be complete. The major part of the construction has been done and some concrete work is pending,” he said.
He, however, felt that the approved 80-meter bridge would serve no purpose, as out of 360 meters of the stream only 80 meters would be covered. “It’s only the first phase and unless the second and third phase is not completed the bridge will not end the connectivity woes of the people”, he said, adding the department has already sent a detailed project report of nearly Rs 20 crores to the government for the phase second and third.
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