Scores of residents of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday expressed resentment against the Roads and Building Department (R&B) for failing to construct the Narbal-Budgam bridge from the past two years.
The bridge connects several villages of Central Kashmir.
Fayaz Ahmad, a local commuter from the area told Rising Kashmir that, “the construction was started after two years but due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the labourers fled and the work is at the halt.”
Fayaz added that the public and transporters are facing hardships in reaching to different destinations in the district.
Another commuter Syed Furkan, resident of Narbal told Rising Kashmir that, “2 days ago, a COVID infected pregnant lady was to be shifted to a hospital but due to incompletion of the bridge they had to choose another long route which delayed their arrival at the hospital and caused inconvenience.”
Wahid Bukhari told Rising Kashmir that, “Roads and Building Department had made a diversion in the site of the incomplete bridge but the diversion is damaged which causes inconvenience to commuters.”
Meanwhile Asghar Ali, Executive Engineer Roads & Building Department Budgam told Rising Kashmir that the work on the bridge was impacted due to COVID-19 pandemic and, “contractors have a shortage of material and labour, which affects the pace of construction.”
However, he added that they will “start the work on the bridge as soon as possible and the bridge will be functional soon.”