The inhabitants of Naidyar, Rainawari area of city on Saturday expressed resentment against the R & B department for failing to repair Naidyar bridge, which is on the verge of collapse.
A group of locals told Rising Kashmir that Roads and Building department (R&B) has failed to repair the old heritage Naidyar Bridge causing a threat to the lives of the commuters.
They accused the R&B for showing a lackadaisical approach in tackling the issue of repairing Naidyar bridge despite their frequent requests to the concerned officials.
President Mohallah Committee Naidyar, Mohammad Shafi said that Naidyar bridge is one of the oldest bridges of the Srinagar city.
“This bridge connects Rainawari to Dal Lake. It has its historical importance as it belongs to our heritage,” he said.
He added loss of the bridge will not only be a loss of the public property but a loss of the heritage of Kashmir.
Another resident Irshad Ahmad said they have been visiting department to department for the past two years but said, “Nobody seems in a mood to resolve their grievances.”
“Further delay in the repairing of this bridge can cause human loss as well as the loss of our heritage, “he said.
The locals appealed to Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha led administration to look into the matter before the bridge collapse.
In response to the deteriorating condition of the bridge, Chief Engineer, R&B, Showkat Jeelani told Rising Kashmir that there is a comparatively new bridge in Naidyar for traffic and the old bridge is left for pedestrians.
“As far as Naidyar bridge is concerned, I will look into the matter and address the issue as the bridge has been declared as a heritage,” he said.