Work handed over to R&B after JKPCC abandons project
Avtar Bhat
GANDERBAL, Sept 5: Though construction was started over 13 years back, Guzhama bridge over river Jhelum to connect the twin districts of Ganderbal and Bandipora is yet to see the light of the day.
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According to sources, the constant delay in the construction of this vital bridge along with an approach road which was conceived to link the two districts and ease the problems of thousands of school and college going students as well as office goers and daily commuters has added to the problems of the people of the twin districts.
Sources said the 50 metre span bridge was allotted to Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) in the year 2011 but after completing about 30 percent of the work by raising abutments, the execution was abandoned in middle way for unknown reasons by the constructing agency creating a lot of public resentment. With the sudden abandoning of the work on this prestigious project, the people’s hopes were dashed to ground, sources added.
They said though tall claims are being made about the development in the UT while the reality is totally different on the ground. The construction of the bridge over the river at Guzhama connecting village Shilvat on other end could have reduced the distance of the people of twin districts as well as saved their time. But with constant delay in its construction there is no chance of people’s long wait coming to end in near future, sources added.
Sources said the JKPCC abandoned the work half way due to shortage of funds after spending nearly Rs 9 cr on it. Sources said with the rise in prices of construction material, the bridge will now involve cost escalation as rates have doubled since the work was started over 13 years back.
Sources said though bridge was envisaged as a crucial link between the twin districts of Central Kashmir and North Kashmir, but instead of easing transportation and fostering regional connectivity, it has become a source of frustration and dejection for the locals. With no bridge in place the residents including school going children, were left with no choice but to cross the river Jhelum on fishing boats putting their lives to grave risk. This situation could have resulted into a grave tragedy, they added.
Sources said, however, with the last year boat tragedy in Srinagar, the authorities’ banned the using of fishing boats at this spot for crossing the river, with the result, the students have to travel an extra distance of over five kms to reach their destinations.
Sources said the construction started in 2011 but was halted just a year after leaving only about 30 percent work completed spending nearly nine crore rupees, which is a serious issue of financial mismanagement and wastage of public money.
Sources said since the project cost has escalated multiple times, it requires approval which will cause further delays. The issue has not only been a matter of unfinished construction but revelations of a larger mismanagement.
Sources said this is the condition of the constituency which is represented by the Chief Minister himself. The construction of bridge could have boosted local economy and trade in the area but it appears that the authorities are not interested for the same, sources added.
Mir Ghulam Rasool, chairman People’s Revolutionary Society said in reply to a RTI the authorities have revealed that so far Rs 7.59 crore have been utilised for the construction, representing approximately 22 percent progress. As per RTI report, 80 percent work of right hand side abutments is complete while the work on left hand side abutments has not been started as yet.
Kesar Shaban, a social activist of the area said that people met the Chief Minister as well seeking his immediate intervention in the matter but to our misfortune, he too did not act against the authorities responsible for constant delay in the construction of the bridge.
Parvez Ahmed Mir, another local resident of the area and a representative of fruit growers said the material to be used for the construction of the bridge is rusting at the site while some portion of it also got washed away in the floods but the authorities are not concerned.
When contacted, the Executive Engineer, R&B Division Ganderbal said the bridge was earlier to be constructed by JKPCC but after they abandoned the work it was handed over to R&B.
The Department has made a revised estimate of Rs 44 crore and submitted it to Government for approval. Once the approval is granted the work will be resumed on the bridge and efforts will be made to complete the same in a stipulated time.
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