Ganderbal residents demand completion of long-awaited Guzhama-Shilwat bridge

Ganderbal, Feb 07: For over 15 years, the incomplete bridge connecting Guzhama in Ganderbal with Shilwat in Bandipora has left thousands of residents in central and north Kashmir to suffer.
Intended to serve as a crucial link between the two districts, the bridge remains unfinished, forcing locals to cross the Jhelum River using unsafe fishing boats. The situation is particularly concerning locals who navigate the river daily, risking their lives.
“Crossing the river by boat is extremely dangerous. It feels like the government is waiting for a tragedy before taking action,” said Mohammad Sultan, a local.
The bridge’s construction began around a decade ago but abruptly stopped a year later without any explanation. Despite multiple pleas to authorities, work has not resumed, Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Shilwat said. “We fought for years to get this bridge approved. Work started, but after some initial progress, it was abandoned without any justification,” he said.
Fayaz added that nearly 8 to nine crore rupees have been spent, yet only 30 per cent of the bridge is complete.“How can authorities allow such a project to remain incomplete despite spending crores?” he asked.
Residents said that previous governments have failed to complete it. They are now appealing to the current administration, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to intervene. “We have raised this issue at every level, but no one is listening. The government must address the delays immediately,” they urged.
An official from the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department acknowledged the delays, saying that JKPCC (Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation) started the project in 2009-10 but lack of proper approvals, halted progress. “We have submitted a revised proposal of Rs 44 crore, which includes land acquisition and approach roads. Once approved, work will resume,” the official assured.