Baramulla: Amid shutdown, scores of traders and people of old town Baramula staged protest demonstration on Tuesday against delay in completion of reconstruction work of arterial and heritage SRTC bridge damaged in 2014 floods.
The SRTC Bridge is vital bridge as it connects Old Town with Civil Lines areas in Baramulla town but official apathy and slow pace of work due to delay in release of funds hampers reconstruction. People including students use boats to cross the river.
“It has been five years now. We are waiting completion of the construction of the bridge but nothing is happening,” said a protestor Ishfaq Ahmad.
Under the banner of Welfare Committee Iqbal Market Old town Baramulla shopkeepers of the old town observed shutdown and staged protest against government and constructing agencies for their failure to complete work on this damaged bridge.
“We have to use boats to take out pregnant ladies to hospital. There is no other alternative for us to reach different places. The bridge should be reconstructed at an earliest so that the inhabitants of the town don’t have to suffer more,” said Jana Beghum an elderly lady after crossing the river in a boat.
General Secretary Traders Federation Baramulla, Er Tariq Ahmad Mugloo told Kashmir Images that government should start construction work on the bridge on priority. He also sought that government must pay attention towards over all development of the Baramulla town.
