Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Kelam-Ashmuji Bridge which was completed after a decade in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district remains inaccessible for the residents owing to the lack of approach road.
Construction of the 175 metre motorable bridge over Vaishov stream was completed three months back with an estimated cost of 14.75 crores. The bridge would have enhanced the connectivity of several areas with each other and to district headquarter Kulgam, but it remains out of reach for locals despite completion.
“We have been waiting for its completion for the last decade. Now the bridge is complete we are unable to use it as administration is yet to construct its approach roads. Why did they not issue tenders for the same in the last one decade? It is a clear case of official apathy,” Ghulam Mohammad, a local said.
The locals told Excelsior that the bridge would have not only connected them to the other villages but also cut their travelling time to highway considerably. “The bridge would have reduced our travel time by an hour. Right now we have to take longer routes, through Qaimoh and Pahloo to reach the national highway, and it takes us more than an hour to reach there,” Abdul Majeed, a local of Ashmuji told Excelsior.
The construction work of the bridge started in 2010 by Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) and the project was expected to be completed in three years. However, the scarcity of funds delayed its completion. “The construction work is complete, and the bridge is usable. The only problem is the lack of approach roads. Once approaches are built, the bridge will be motorable,” Masood Gangoo, Deputy General Manager JKPCC, said.
An official in the district administration, however, said that a detailed project report for the approach roads has been sent to the government. “Land has to be acquired on one side and that might take some time. Over Rs 75 lakhs are required for the process and work will start only after receiving the money, “he said.
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