Skewed bridge slated for completion by October
After missing several deadlines, the skewed bridge over river Jhelum at Rajbagh here is slated for completion by October this year.
The bridge, named as skewed bridge due to its design, has been in midst of controversies for last few years. It was scheduled to be completed by December 2014, however as per officials, the construction of the bridge was hindered as Rajbagh was among the worst hit areas by September 2014 deluge.The 120-metre-long bridge having three spans will connect the busy Polo View road with Raj Bagh near Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School across the river. Officials said it will reduce the traffic load on Abdullah bridge— where long traffic jams are witnessed at the peak hours.
Managing Director, JKPCC, Dalip Thusoo said that the bridge would be completed and thrown open for traffic by October 2016.
“Currently work on the project is going on war-footing and it would be ready by or before October this year,” Thusoo told. He said the bridge would help in reducing the traffic congestion in the summer capital.
Elaborating he said currently shuttering of end span and central span of the bridge is going on. However, he dispelled rumors about the adverse impact of the project on Jhelum.
“There was a misinformation among public earlier that the bridge would affect the water flow in the Jhelum, but it is not right. The bridge won’t have any adverse on river flow and there is nothing to worry about its design,” he said.
The bridge is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 12.37 crore. As per JKPCC officials, the construction of the bridge post-floods was started only after experts gave nod to its construction as the PDP-BJP alliance had sought expert opinion. Some experts had cautioned that the bridge foundation may block water flow in the river.
Controversies raged over the proposal of the bridge due to its skewed design when Government announced its construction. It triggered a debate over its developmental benefits and environmental impact on river Jhelum. And some feared that the famous Bund will lose its glory once traffic plies on it.
