No department in the administration is owning the historic and much-hyped tourist attraction– Zero Bridge– in Rajbagh Srinagar. The bridge at many places is damaged and with no department taking its responsibility, the damages are bound to get worse with each passing day.
In 2012, the bridge was rebuilt at the cost of Rs 11 crores by Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCC). After that, the 154-meter-long bridge was renovated during 2012–2016 with deodar and timber decks on both sides.
At present, the tourism department as well as roads and building department say they don’t own the iconic bridge, leaving its damaging structure unattended. The floors in many spots have been damaged over the last few months, and no government department is stepping forward to repair it.
On a daily basis, hundreds of people throng this beautiful bridge but leave in a state of shock on seeing the floor of the bridge damaged at multiple places.
“I visit the bridge on a regular basis to reduce stress and socialize but the damaged structure bothers me every time. The authorities must take serious steps to repair the bridge before it is damaged beyond repair,” Mariya Manzoor, a local said.
According to local elders, the bridge, which is two kilometers from Lal Chowk, was once open to vehicular traffic, but that was shut twenty-one years ago when its wooden planks developed cracks.
One of the state administrations decided against its replacement with a cement-and-mortar bridge in order to respect local sensibilities. While there were discussions about demolishing the bridge, a public representative promised a wooden bridge would be constructed there in order to retain the original design of the damaged bridge.
The nighttime view from the bridge, the brisk breeze and the lights all around make one want to stay there forever. The bridge has over the years become one of the major tourist destinations in the city. Moreover, the locals go to the bridge to socialize, meet friends, and to spend quality time with their families.
Earlier, speaking to Rising Kashmir, the Commissioner Secretary of Tourism, Sarmand Hafeez, said, “The divisional administration handed over the bridge to the R & B Department a few years ago. Since then, it is under the care of the said department.”
Contesting the tourism department claims, the R&B department said they had no information about when the bridge was handed over to them.
However, amid the contesting claims it is the historic legacy of the bridge which is at stake.
