Srinagar: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday welcomed the government’s decision to begin the process of converting the Rajbagh footbridge over the River Jhelum (near the Silk Factory) into a motorable bridge.
In his statement, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that the earlier decision to alter the nature of the project was “foolish, short-sighted, and ill-advised,” reflecting a lack of understanding of administrative priorities and public interest on the part of the then Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.
He further said that “it should be investigated why this project, conceived as a motorable bridge, was later altered and converted into merely a footbridge, despite expert opinion favouring its construction as a motorable bridge, and even though a substantial amount of Rs 12 crore had already been spent to initiate the project in that form.”
“It should be investigated who benefited by altering this project,” he added.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari further said, “The Bridge was originally conceived as a motorable structure to help decongest traffic in and around the city centre. I vividly recall how, as the concerned minister and MLA representing the area, I had convinced the then Chief Minister, Mufti Sahib, to approve its construction for that very purpose. The foundation work was accordingly undertaken with that objective.”
“Sadly, that vision was derailed. His daughter Mehbooba Mufti, during her tenure as Chief Minister, unfortunately altered the nature of the project, converting it into a mere footbridge just to favour some of her acquaintances. This was done despite the fact that a substantial sum of Rs 12 crore in public funds had already been spent on the original design of a motorable bridge,” the statement reads.
“Displaying her Nadirshahi behaviour, she unilaterally decided to downgrade the project, leaving the public disheartened and the area’s traffic woes unresolved,” it adds.
“Changing the fundamental nature of the project was a foolish, short-sighted and ill-advised decision that reflected a lack of understanding of administrative priorities and public interest by Mehbooba Mufti,” Apni Party President said.
Welcoming the present government’s decision, he said, “I sincerely appreciate the present government’s decision to rectify that misstep and restore the bridge to its original purpose — a fully functional motorable link. This long-awaited development will not only ease traffic congestion but will also fulfil a long-cherished aspiration of the people.”
