Proposal to upgrade footbridge near Convent School to motorable bridge under review: Dy CM

Srinagar, Mar 24: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Monday informed the House that the proposal to upgrade the foot bridge near GPO/Convent School to a motorable bridge is currently under review.
The statement came in response to a question raised by National Conference MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmad Pardesi, who sought clarification on the construction of the bridge. Pardesi questioned whether a motorable bridge had been originally planned near the GPO/Convent School and whether a foot bridge had been constructed instead, despite the foundation being laid for a motorable bridge.
Responding to the question, Choudhary, who holds the portfolio of Public Works (R&B), said that “the original proposal had indeed been for the construction of a motorable bridge. However, following the laying of the foundation, the bridge was eventually constructed as a foot bridge by M/S JKPCC.” He stated that the Chief Engineer of the Irrigation & Flood Control Department had, through a communication dated April 2, 2016, cancelled the earlier No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the motorable bridge. The department was advised to raise the soffit levels of the bridge, which would significantly increase the road levels on both the Convent School and GPO sides by approximately 2.5 meters.
Choudhary further stated that “the proposal to upgrade the foot bridge into a motorable one is currently under review.”