Srinagar, Apr 11 (KNO): For the past 18 years, the residents of over a dozen villages in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have been awaiting the completion of two vital bridges over the Jhelum River—Dogripora and Reshipora.
The foundation stones of these bridges as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) were laid in 2007 and 2008 respectively while the projects have seen repeated delays, leaving local communities in hardship and raising serious safety concerns.
Every day, dozens of students and residents are forced to cross the river using boats due to the absence of proper bridge connectivity.
Locals fear that if the situation continues, incidents similar to the tragic Gandbal boat capsize could occur here too.
Javid Ahmad, a resident of Dogripora in Awantipora, voiced his concerns, saying, “Many people have suffered injuries while crossing the river. These bridges are not just infrastructure; they are lifelines that connect villages to the national highway and the Panzgam Railway Station.”
He said the delays persist despite repeated promises from authorities. “If completed, the Dogripora Bridge would significantly reduce travel time between Tral and Shahoora, boosting connectivity and easing daily life.”
In Reshipora, the villagers highlighted how they are compelled to travel over 10 kilometers to access the highway—a journey that would otherwise be just 500 meters if the bridge were functional.
While many other bridges in Pulwama have been completed over the past two decades, the Dogripora and Reshipora bridges remain in limbo.
Jahangir Ahmad, a local from Reshipora, emphasized the risk faced by students. “Children cross the river by boat to reach school. It’s extremely dangerous and yet no tangible progress has been made despite continuous appeals.”
He further added that construction on the Reshipora Bridge has been entirely halted for years, while work on the Dogripora bridge proceeds sporadically—starting and stopping repeatedly with no clear direction.
The villagers have once again appealed to authorities to prioritize the completion of these long-pending projects to ensure safety and ease of access for thousands of residents.
An official told KNO that these bridges are incomplete due to unavailability of funds and both projects are partially completed. “The work on Dogripora and Reshipora bridges has not been abandoned but temporarily halted for want of revised administrative approval,” he said.
“Revised DPRs for the balance work of Dogripora and Reshipora bridges have been prepared for Rs 1529.47 lakh and Rs 1383.01 lakh respectively and are under process for revised Administrative Approval,” he said.
“The work of both these bridges shall be tendered after revised AA is accorded,” he added—(KNO)