Shyam Sood
Rajouri, Sept 11: A suspension footbridge at Androla in the Rajouri district was washed away in a flash flood in the month of September 2014.
After 8 years the inhabitants of about 5-6 villages, who are facing immense problems in the absence of this bridge, still wait for the completion of this bridge.
Presently the bridge (now motorable for light four-wheelers) is under construction and according to Maqbool Hussian, Executive Engineer, PWD(R&B) the bridge would be ready before the end of this year.
Maqbool Hussain added that even after the completion of this bridge it can’t be thrown open for use until the Court decides about the stay on the approach roads on both sides of this bridge due to some local issues.
On Sunday, Vikas Kundal, Deputy Commissioner along with Maqbool Hussain, Executive Engineer, concerned AEE, PWD, and other concerned officers visited the construction site to inspect the progress of work on this 135-meter long bridge being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 7.72 crores (presently under the languish scheme).
The importance of this bridge is that it connects the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway with the Rajouri-Kalakot-Jammu road and hundreds of people from several villages, students, and employees were using the bridge daily.
The absence of this bridge causing immense hardships for the people and several protests were held in the past for its early completion.
Initially, after washing away of this bridge, the District Administration included it in the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and under SRDF it was to be completed /repaired within 45 days, which was impossible.
So, it was decided to convert the suspension footbridge for Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) and later the project was sanctioned for Rs 4 crores and work was allotted to Srinagar-based contractor.
After some initial work, the contractor abandoned the work due to some technical problems and after a wait of more than 3 years re-tender was called and the work was allotted to a Jammu based contractor with a project cost of Rs 5.50 crore.
But, due to paucity of funds and Covid-19 the work couldn’t be continued.
Now, after mounting pressure from the inhabitants of the area, the project was taken under Languishing Scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 7.72 crores including approach roads and bridge (about double of Rs 4 crores sanctioned in 2014).
As the clearance of approach roads (on both sides of the bridge) is awaited from the Court, it may take a few more months to make the bridge fully operational.
“The next hearing in the Court related to staying on the approach roads is fixed on October 6, it is hoped that the matter will be resolved by the Court,” said Maqbool Hussian, Executive Engineer PWD(R&B).
With the completion of this project, about 8000 people will get all-weather connectivity, he informed.
