Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 31: After waiting over five decades, residents of Mir Behri in Dal Lake interiors finally got their first proper road bridge, built at a cost of Rs 49 lakh.
The bridge, inaugurated today, will improve connectivity, provide easier access to essential services, and shorten the long daily journeys residents previously had to make.
It was inaugurated by MLA Tanvir Sadiq of Zadibal, who had promised to ensure its construction within the first year of the Government’s formation.
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Locals termed the bridge a turning point, saying it has ended decades of hardship.
Nasir Jafri, a resident, said that earlier only wooden footbridges existed, largely meant for pedestrians and two-wheelers.
He said the new bridge would allow smooth movement of larger vehicles and improve access to essential services.
“This is truly a historic moment. Earlier, the only road connectivity was via Rainawari, which was lengthy and cumbersome, adding nearly 3.5 kilometres to our daily commute,” he said.
Auto-rickshaws were often reluctant to ply to the area and charged high fares when they did, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Sadiq said the bridge would benefit nearly 40,000 residents by linking the area with the main road.
“People living here are poor and have long suffered due to lack of connectivity. For the past 50 years, this bridge was their main demand. I had promised it would be completed in the first year, and today that promise stands fulfilled,” he said after inaugurating the bridge.
Notably, the construction of the bridge began in November last year and was completed in record time. The bridge is 14 feet wide and 35 feet long.
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