Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Sept 2: A wave of public discontent erupted today in Rajouri as the people staged a protest against the prolonged suspension of the construction work on the Badala- Mang bridge.
This crucial infrastructure project was intended to connect the Rajouri-Jammu Highway to the Panj Peer area via Jawahar Nagar, Budhal and Kalakot Road, ensuring ease in traffic congestion and improve connectivity in the region.
The protest, led by social activists Hema Kant Sharma and Nazam Mir, highlighted the frustration of the local populace. Speaking at the protest site, Sharma criticized the administration for suspending the bridge construction five years ago, despite the project’s potential to address significant traffic issues in Rajouri.
“This bridge was supposed to solve many of our problems, particularly the traffic jams that plague our city, but instead, the work has been stalled, leaving us in a worse situation,” Sharma remarked.
Mir stated that the abandoning work on the bridge project has forced residents to take a much longer route, an additional five kilometers, to reach the other side. He emphasized that despite numerous appeals to the authorities, the construction work has remained suspended for the past five years. “This bridge was part of a larger circular road connectivity scheme that could have reduced traffic congestion by over thirty percent. The delay is unacceptable,” said Mir.
The protesters issued a stern warning to the authorities, stating that if the construction work on the bridge is not resumed promptly, they are prepared to escalate their demonstrations, including a potential blockade of the Jammu-Poonch Highway.
The residents are calling for immediate action to resume the construction work on the bridge, stressing that it is vital for easing traffic flow and improving the daily lives of thousands of people.
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