Traders threaten agitation
Bhat Zahoor
Sumbal, May 6: At the mercy of R&B department, a 100-metre foot bridge at Sumbal is yet to get completed. After three years of inauguration the department has constructed only a single pillar for the bridge.
The bridge which is underway in construction was inaugurated by MLA Sonawari and former Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone in January, 2014. The work was started over the bridge but only after constructed a single pillar and the work was stopped due to unknown reasons.
The foot bridge which will replace the vehicular bridge was collapsed some ten years ago. After getting some major cracks the bridge was declared as unsafe for vehicles and only pedestrians were supposed to walk on. But later on, in 2013 the bridge got collapsed completely.
The bridge which connects Sumbal to Safapora and Nesbal areas is yet to get completed despite the fact that the local people in general and students in particular are suffering a lot in this regard.
The foot bridge which should have been completed years before leads the pedestrians especially the students, aged persons and most importantly pregnant women’s towards a great chore.
Official sources said that the total cost to be spend over the bridge is 3 crores and 41 lacs. But interestingly, from three years only 82 lacs has been spent over the bridge and one can imagine how leniency there has been showed when it comes to foot bridge Sumbal. It clearly shows that the administration is in deep slumber by not heeding any attention in order to get this bridge completed at the right time.
The Chinar Traders Association Sumbal President Mushtaq Ahmad Rather who represents the entire area felt great anguish over this issue and said that we are now appealing to State government that the bridge should be completed as soon as possible, it is our children, our sisters, mother’s and father’s who are suffering a lot due to the in-completion of this bridge, they added.
However, the traders Association Sumbal also threatened that the administration should start construction work over the bridge and take necessary steps in order to get the foot bridge completed unlike they will start a volatile agitation on it.
When contacted Assistant Engineer R& B Sumbal Gulzar Ahmad , he said, ” we are having lack of funds , once the funds may get available the work over bridge will start and would get completed. AEE assured that we are hoping that the bridge will get completed in the current year, he added.