Decade on, Mazbugh connectivity bridge in Sopore awaits completion

Baramulla, March 07: Decade on, the construction work on vital Mazbugh Bridge across River Pohru in sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla is yet far away from completion.
The bridge once completed will connect Rafiabad and other areas with Sopore town, and Sopore Fruit Mandi-Asia’s Second Largest Fruit Market.
The bridge with a total length of 86 meters was approved in 2013 and the construction work was taken up by the J&K Projects Construction Corporation(JKPCC) at an estimated cost of Rs 7.50 crore, against which the work to the tune of Rs 3.50 crore stands already executed.
The locals of the area expressed dismay against JKPCC Baramulla for failing to complete the bridge within stipulated time .
According to local residents, the bridge for the area was approved to get rid of traffic snarls and connect the area to the Sopore Fruit Mandi.
A local media student, M Rafi told Rising Kashmir that JKPCC took over the bridge a decade ago and left the work halfway which irks commuters and pedestrians day in and day out.
“The delay in completion of the project is pressing the commuters to choose alternate long route which causes immense problems to office-goers, students and patients,” he said.
Rafi said that concerned authorities should look into the matter and execute the remaining work on the bridge without any delay.
Another local resident, M Ayoub said that there is an existing narrow (single lane) old bridge in the area which was constructed in 1971, witnesses traffic snarls every day as two vehicles can’t pass at a time through it.
He said that during fruit season the commuters had to wait for long hours to pass the bridge and reach Sopore fruit mandi.
“To get rid of traffic mess near the old constructed bridge we requested higher authorities to construct the two lane bridge decade ago and same was approved in 2013 , since then we are waiting for the completion of the project,” Ayoub said.
President Fruit Mandi Sopore, Fayaz Ahmad said that they had repeatedly requested concerned authorities to complete the construction of the bridge but they turned deaf ear to their pleas.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Deputy President JKPCC Baramulla, Masood Ahmad Gangoo said, “The bridge was approved under NABARD Scheme in 2013 and was handed over to JKPCC,”.
He acknowledged that the work on the project remain halted for years due to some reasons.
“The work was delayed due to shifting of JKPCC from nomination mode to e-tendering mode, non-availability of skilled labour during abrogation of 370 , thereafter covid-19 restrictions etc.,” he said.
He said that they floated e-tenders five times as per SSR-2012 and response received from contractors was zero, which delayed the completion of project.
“We have submitted the fresh estimate to head office for completion of sub-structure work on SSR-2022,” he said.
He said that hopefully fresh e-tenders will be floated in March as per SSR-2022 to get healthy response from contractors.