10 years on, Maharajpora-Sopore bridge construction work makes little progress
Posted on Jan 03, 2022 | Author Bilkees Rashid
Sopore, Jan 02: Residents of Mahrajpora Sopore and adjoining villages are annoyed over the delay in completion of a vital bridge across Mahrajpora to Sher colony, old Sopore that connects a large area with Sopore main town.
The bridge, 205 meter long and to be built on 4 pillars with 9 piles, is being built at the estimated cost of 16 crore. The foundation stone of the project was laid by then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on December 02, 2013.
Akbar Ahmad lone, a local resident of Mahrajpora said that the work on the bridge was started some 10 years back but so far only pillars have been raised halfway.
The bridge is being constructed by the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC).Once the bridge is made functional it will connect many villages including Tarzoo, Panjipora, Hygam and other areas and the people from these areas can travel directly to Bandipora and Kupwara, he said.
The foundation of the bridge was laid by the then chief minister of the former J&K State, Omar Abdullah. He had promised to complete the construction work in the least possible time but that did not happen.
Bilal Ahmed Dar, a resident of Tarzoo said that the area is experiencing the worst problems, especially students and patients of the Mahrajpora. The authorities have ignored the importance of this bridge. On numerous occasions, for some unknown reasons the work is stopped abruptly,
“The slow pace of the work and dilapidated condition of the roads and surrounding villages itself speaks of the incompetence of the authorities,” he said.
Sajad Ahmed, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Sopore said that the project was under the JKPCC, due to paucity of funds, the work has stopped, but he assured that the work will resume soon on the bridge and people will not suffer in near future.