Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 19: Former minister and senior National Conference leader Ajay Sadhotra has alleged that approach road to new Fallain- Mandal bridge commissioned today has been virtually made a `death trap’ by the concerned agency, JKPCC.
Addressing a press conference here today, Sadhotra said that the approach road of the new bridge over Nikki Tawi connecting Satwari-Chatha area of Jammu with Fallain Mandal has been ill-designed by the engineers of the concerned agency engineers. He pointed out that this approach has been given a sharp curve just closer to the bridge moreover, an undue slope has been created there, making it more dangerous and accidental prone.
It appears that concerned agency has tried to give undue benefit to some people and compromised the construction at the cost of the precious lives of the people of this area. There is strongly resentment among the people of the area over it and they have made up mind to launch indefinite agitation. He said on earlier occasion also, a protest demonstration under him was staged by the people and if the road was not improved or redesigned within days, the public would launch agitation.
“It is strange and shocking to note that even the directives of the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti have been ignored by the JKPCC and other Govt officers. During inspection of the bridge by the CM about 6-7 months ago, she had pointed out ill-designing of the approach road across the bridge (Mandal side) but the concerned engineers did not bother to rectify the fault,” Sadhotra maintained.
The NC leader pointed out that the old bridge had been washed away during Sept 2014 floods and the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had sanctioned Rs 22 crore for the construction of new bridge at the site near old existing bridge. He said when the money was lying with the R&B/JKPCC, what was the need to make the road so sharp-curved and accident prone.
A local former Sarpanch of the area accompanying Sadhotra alleged that a large banquet hall and hotel has been raised by a local political person near that bridge and he has managed some Govt land illegally allotted. He demanded that Chief Minister should hold inquiry into the matter and expose the role of agency and its senior officers at the helm of affairs.
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