Sopore, Feb 03 (KNO): A 150-meter bridge in Manz Seer Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district is awaiting the completion despite the elapsing of 17 years, thereby leaving the local residents to lurch at large.
The foundation stone of the bridge was laid in 2007, which remains incomplete and missed multiple deadlines and cost escalations so far.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the long-pending project, initially under the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) and later transferred to the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department Sopore, was estimated to come up at the cost over Rs 12 crore, but is awaiting the completion.
Residents of the area have expressed deep frustration over the prolonged delay, stating that the absence of the bridge has forced them to take a 7-kilometer detour via Sopore to reach their orchards and the Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi—an otherwise short walk of just a few meters if the bridge would have been completed.
“The work was started a decade ago, but then halted for unknown reasons. A few lakhs were spent, yet the project remains in limbo. We have knocked on every door, yet no action has been taken,” a local resident said.
The villagers accuse successive administrations of neglect and indifference. “Despite having elected representatives, we fail to understand what stops the government from completing this essential project,” another resident lamented.
Locals have urged authorities to take immediate steps to resume and complete the construction, which they say is critical for connectivity, trade and daily commutes.
Meanwhile, an official at the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department told KNO that the work is ongoing at a slow pace, with over Rs 6 crore worth of work completed so far. He acknowledged that the project has missed several deadlines and admitted that progress remains sluggish.
“There are some technical issues, but once resolved, the project is expected to be completed within a year,” he added—(KNO)