Eight years on, construction of Kangan-Akhal Bridge still in limbo
Kangan, Jan 29: Residents of Akhal and adjacent villages in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district are up in arms against authorities for not completing the construction of Kangan-Akhal Bridge despite passage of more than 8 years.
Local residents said that construction on Kangan-Akhal Bridge was started around 8 years ago but the work on the bridge is going on at snail’s pace. “If this approach continues, it will take decades to complete the construction of bridge,” they said.
A local resident said, “A bailey bridge has been constructed on Nallah Sind for connecting Kangan with Akhal but it is very narrow. Akhal is a big area with population in thousands.”
“We don’t have facility of public transport because mini buses can’t cross the narrow makeshift bridge. Emergency services like fire brigade and ambulance can’t also reach the Akhal village,” he added.
Locals further said the bridge will provide a big relief to them, once it is made functional. “We appeal the constructing agency to pace up work on the bridge so that the problem of vital road connectivity is solved,” they added.
When contacted executive engineer JKPCC, Bashir Ahmad War, said: “The construction of bridge was taken under state sector but it was not funded properly.”
Now government of India has included the bridge in languishing projects and has been approved for funding. The work on the bridge will resume very soon,” he added.
