Srinagar, Feb 02: Recently, the outsourced Zero Bridge in Rajbagh, Srinagar, has unveiled an exclusive food court and coffee shop, offering visitors a diverse culinary experience.
The caretaker said that they recently took over the bridge and have initiated establishment of a food court and coffee shop there. “Upon takeover, the bridge was in a dilapidated condition, requiring considerable time for renovation.”
The manager of the Waffle Co. and Zero Degree food court at Zero Bridge highlighted that they had recently assumed responsibility for the bridge. The primary challenge in this location was ensuring a safe environment, as the bridge was prone to “undesirable activities”. To address this issue, we sought assistance from the police, who provided their support.
Upon acquisition, the bridge, decks, courts, and other structures were extensively damaged. Repairing these damages was a significant challenge, compounded by instances of repeated damage. Subsequently, we stationed guards to oversee the area.
Thus far, we have installed lighting and repaired the damaged sections of the bridge. Additionally, CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor the bridge, which has become a focal point for “bad activities”.
Currently, our focus is on ensuring the safety, cleanliness, and enhancement of the bridge’s aesthetics. The manager expressed hope about the increasing flow of visitors, stating that more people are going to visit, and we expect this trend to continue in the future.
The manager further explained that local residents had been opting for longer routes to Lal Chowk due to discomfort walking on the bridge. However, since we commenced our efforts, locals have begun utilizing the bridge again.
The Zero Bridge, inaugurated in 2014, initially garnered attention from both locals and tourists. However, over time, it fell into disrepair, with no efforts made for its restoration. Given its historical significance, the authorities recently decided to outsource its maintenance.
