Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 1: The closure of fourth bridge on the river Tawi for repairing has led to massive traffic jams in this winter capital of the state. The bridge on the river Tawi in Bhagwati Nagar area was closed in the mid of June for repairing the embankment and bund, which got washed in 2014 flash floods. ''Due to immediate repairs and construction of protection bund and embankment, the bridge was closed for vehicular traffic,'' an official here today said.
Notably, the traffic from major parts, including Talab Tillo, Canal Road, Akhnoor, Domana, Bakshi Nagar area, which was otherwise moving via closed bridge was diverted to old bridge in Jewel Chowk resulting into long hours of traffic jam in the city. ''The bridge has been closed for repair work by Jammu Kashmir Projects Constructing Corporation and once the work is complete, the bridge will be thrown open to traffic,'' said an official.
He said the bridge was supposed to be thrown open in last week of July but unfortunately, due to fresh spell of rainfall in view of monsoon season, the work was suspended thus delaying the completion of the project. ''It is surprising and mis-governance on government's part as monsoon season in an annual feature and instead of starting, the work close to the rainy days, it could have been started in the month of March-April,'' Ramesh Kotwal-a teacher said. ''The convoy of pilgrims, which earlier was used to travel from fourth bridge towards the national highway, was also diverted towards old route leading to long hours of traffic jams and creating inconvenience to the commuters,'' Dr Amandeep Singh told.
He said that he used to take fourth bridge route to reach his clinic but due to its closure, he has to leave at least one-hour earlier for his destination and despite that could not reach on time. Meanwhile, the portion of damaged bridge is yet to be repaired and the work is in progress but another portion of road on Saturday evening caved in adding to the worries for the cities in the coming days.
''The work is almost complete and most probably by August 10, the bridge (both ways) will be thrown open for the commuters,'' Dilip Thusso, Managing Director, JKPCC here told Mr Thusoo asserted that work has been expedited and will no more be delayed. |
