11 years on, Noor Jehan Bridge at Srinagar awaits completion

Despite the passage of 11 years, the work on 127-meter-long Noor Jehan Bridge at Qamarwari in Srinagar awaits completion.

The work on the bridge was initiated in 2011 and was expected to be completed in four years. Later the authorities said that bridge will be completed in 2017, then in 2018 and then in December 2022. However, the bridge has missed several deadlines causing an immense problem for commuters.

I was in the school when the work on the bridge commenced, now I am in college and the bridge is yet to be thrown open for people, said Fazil Nisar. Adding that he said, “We have been listening from the local administration that the bridge will be completed at this or that time, but it is all lie”.

The bridge is vital in many aspects. Every day, hundreds of vehicles through the old bridge which is congested and is causing traffic jams for hours every single day, said Mushtaq Ahmad. Adding that he said, “It seems that the government is reluctant to provide relief to the commuters, lastly, the authorities are providing fake promises”.
The Deputy Commissioner in Srinagar last year had instructed the concerned executing agency to work in double shifts to ensure the timely completion of the bridge so that people of the area benefit.

Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir division Rafiq Ahmad Rafiq said the project was subject to be complete in December; however, it got delayed due to some reason. Adding that he said, “There is some slab process on which we are working and once is done, the project will be complete”.

Asked about when the bridge will fully be completed, CE R&B Kashmir Rafiq said, “We are expecting to complete the work on the bridge by March”.