Srinagar’s heritage site, Zero Bridge craves for attention

Srinagar, Jan 12: In November 2021, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) picked up Srinagar among 49 cities as part of the creative city network under the Crafts and Folk Arts category. A year after this, one of the Srinagar’s heritage site, Zero Bridge craves for authorities’ attention as they fail to repair the damaged plates of vital bridge.
Two years ago, when UNESCO picked Srinagar for the crafts and folk-art category, there was a week-long celebration in the Kashmir valley organised by various departments, and it was then told that this would allure people across the globe to see heritage sites in Kashmir.
Following the completion of the week-long celebrations, the authorities in Kashmir valley left these heritage sites unattended, resulting in their deterioration, with the zero bridge at Rajabagh being one of the live examples.
In 2012, the old Zero bridge was taken down. It was rebuilt for Rs 11 crore by Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCC). The 154-meter-long bridge was renovated between 2012 and 2016, with deodar and timber decks on both sides.
Every day, hundreds of tourists throng this lovely bridge, but they are shocked to learn that the bridge’s bottom has been broken.
A resident of Rajbagh, Sadia Bilal told Rising Kashmir that she frequents this bridge but the broken decks annoy her. She believes that if authorities don’t take bridge repairs seriously, the historic bridge will be destroyed. “It is weird that such places were built at great expense and then left neglected.”
The Zero Bridge, located two kilometres from the centre of Lal Chowk, once have been accessible to vehicles. However, it came to an end twenty-two years ago when the wooden piers and planks that supported it crumbled, leaving it unable to hold anything.
The bridge is revered by many as a part of the neighbourhood’s history. To respect local sensibilities, the administration at the time chose against replacing it with a cement and brick bridge.
A local official pledged that a wooden bridge would be built there to preserve the demolished bridge’s original design while there were debates about tearing it down.
The night time view from the bridge, the brisk breeze, and the lights make one want to stay and live there forever.
The bridge is mainly used for tourism and is known as one of the tourist destinations, but it is also a great place for residents to mingle and socialize.
Commissioner, SMC Athar Amir Khan, told Rising Kashmir that the Zero Bridge is being repaired. He said that due to the bad weather, the department was unable to execute the repair work.
However, he said they will start repairing work as the weather improves in the city.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Er. Rafiq Ahmad Rafiq, Chief Engineer for Roads and Buildings, stated that the bridge was built by JKPCC and was handed over to the Tourism Department of Kashmir after it was added to the Kashmir Valley’s heritage sites.
According to the director of tourism for Kashmir, Faz Lul Haseeb, they have already ensured that an estimate is in place and that its repair has been proposed in next year’s budget.
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