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34 years on, Ujhan yet to get a bridge | | | Early Times Report Rajouri, July 30:IT may sound weird but it is true that construction work of a 153 meters span Bridge in Ujhan area in Darhal, which started way back in 1976, is going on at a snail’s pace as the concerned agency could manage to complete only 2 meters of it in 34 long years! Incredibly, as against estimate of Rs 15 crore, government has so far released Rs 5 lakh for its construction since 1976 and that too in installments. Keeping in view the need of 20,000 population living in Kasian, Badanoo, Dhan Rakiban, Ujhan, Chatyar, Dhandkote and Darhal areas, State Government in 1976 announced construction of a Bridge to connect these areas with the rest of world following which the work was handed over to Pubic Works Department but though they could not continue work on it either due to lack of funds or due to lethargic attitude of the engineers, it was handed over to some other construction company. Having 153 meters span, Ujhan bridge is waiting government attention for the last 34 years. The work of the bridge construction was snatched by the government from R&B department in 2004 after 30 years and handed it over to Jammu & Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) but it has also not yet started work on it. As per sources, JKPCC has conducted re-survey of it and has suggested Rs 10.71 crore for construction of single lane bridge in the area. However the proposal is somewhere gathering dust in the some almirah in the Civil Secretariat. However, when contacted Executive Engineer of JKPCC Abdul Majeed Wani said that the project will be undertaken under NABARD scheme and it may take some more time to get approval of funds. “We are ready to start work but are waiting for NABARD funds”, Wani said admitting that the construction of this bridge was initiated in mid seventies. “The construction of this bridge was handed over to us in 2004 and prior to that it was under R&B department”, he said adding that the progress could not be made due to deficiency of funds. As JKPCC has estimated Rs 10.71 crore for its construction, local said that there is need of double lane bridge and its survey should be re-conducted in the interest of the future generations. Due to non construction of this bridge, population of about 20000 have to cross Darhal stream to get connected with alone Darhal-Rajouri road and the stream could be seen flooded most of the times. Residents said that during the last 34 years, at least 6 persons have drowned in this stream while crossing it besides thousands of animals also washed away. “We have already lost our six people and thousands of animals due to non-construction of this bridge”, Waseem Mirza, a local PDP leader said adding “This is injustice with us and it speaks itself about the dilly dallying attitude of government towards executing public works”. Though several senior politicians belong to this area, residents said that they also failed to get this bridge constructed from the department. “Our leaders have done nothing for this area and they only enjoy luxuries of life either at Jammu or Srinagar cities”, the locals maintained. The residents, however, hoped that Minister for Roads & Buildings Ghulam Mohammad Saroori may provide them the much needed bridge. They appreciated his style of working and appealed him to initiate work on the project on priority basis. “The minister is doing well in the state and has also initiated various projects in Rajouri and Poonch but it has no meaning for us as work for our bridge is pending for the last 34 years. We appeal minister to visit the area and release funds for the bridge at the earliest”, residents said.
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