| Soiteng, Lasjan people await bridge construction | | | Majid Nabi
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 17: Seven years on, Soiteng, Lasjan Bridge supposed to connect Pandrethan to Vethpora in Soiteng is still in infancy stage, with work going on occasionally at snail's pace, locals alleged.
People from Soiteng, Lasjan, Padshahibagh, Athwajan, Pandrethan, Batwara, Sonwar, Dalgate and other adjoining areas expressed their resentment over the government failure to construct the much awaited bridge sought to save energy and time of the common masses, who otherwise are forced to walk miles to reach the other side of the embankment.
"The work on bridge was started in 2009 with the promise that it shall be completed in 2013. But since then despite exceeding the time limit by two years, the government has miserably failed to live up to its promises and the work on the bridge is still in infancy stage," Ghulam Mohammad Hajam, a local told 'Early Times'.
Even as all the material required building the bridge is lying on at the adjacent road, the locals claim that the work on the bridge is being carried out intermittently with less manpower employed on the job.
They allege saying that the government's apathetic attitude has marred the construction of this bridge which has been giving tough time to the commuters and especially the expecting mothers. "Many a times the expecting mothers have delivered babies on ferry while being taken to the hospital situated on the other side of the embankment at Batwara," said Hilal Ahmad another local.
The locals say that they had initially demanded a foot bridge at Syed Abad Soiteng to connect it to Batwara where a hospital, high school and a higher secondary school is situated.
But to their utter dismay Omar Abdullah led state government skipped the proposal after Army refused to allow authorities to execute the project, citing security reasons, and instead a vehicular bridge was allotted to them a kilometer away from the main spot at Syed Abad Soiteng.
The inhabitants said they heaved a sigh of relief after government approved the proposal even though it was a kilometer away from the main spot. However the delay in completion of the bridge is giving nightmares to them.
They stressed newly formed government to carry out the construction of the bridge at an immediate to redress the long pending grievances of the locals.
The locals added that the bridge would not only solve their problem but it would also act as a short cut route to Kinnihama, Shopian, Mughal road and etc and thus lessen the traffic pressure on the main road connecting Srinagar with Mughal road. |
|
