Prolonged bridge construction in Shallabugh irks Ganderbal residents

Ganderbal, Aug 08: For the past three years, the construction of a crucial bridge in Shallabugh, Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, has been stalled, causing substantial inconvenience to the local populace. The situation has worsened following the closure of the old wooden bridge due to damage.
Residents have voiced their discontent, emphasizing the bridge’s potential to alleviate their daily struggles. “Completion of this bridge would significantly reduce our daily hardships and simplify travel to Srinagar and other areas,” remarked Bashir Ahmad Parray, a local resident.
In the absence of proper connectivity, locals face daily challenges crossing the river Jhelum for work. Nazir Ahmad Laway, another resident, claimed that construction had halted due to unpaid bills owed to the contractor. “We cannot comprehend why it is taking so long for the authorities to finish the construction. Despite knowing its importance, the completion is still delayed,” he said.
With the old bridge closed and security personnel deployed to prevent accidents. Officials’ sources addressing the delay, have cited various reasons but now aim to finish the bridge by December this year.
Executive Engineer R&B Division Ganderbal, Er. Tatheer Manzoor, indicated that work on the bridge’s superstructure is progressing. He said that the bridge consists of two truss girders, one of which is already fabricated, while the other awaits completion. The second truss girder’s fabrication is dependent on the first one’s launch due to space limitations. The project is anticipated to be finished by December.
“The bridge was initially scheduled for completion in August, but work was halted due to certain issues,” Er. Tatheer Manzoor added.