Kupwara, Jun 26 (JKNS): The Bungargund Bridge, which connects the Trehgam and Ramhal areas in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, has been lying incomplete for the past 10 to 15 years, causing severe commuting difficulties for the local population.
Local residents stated that construction work on this bridge over the Kehmil Nallah was initiated nearly a decade ago to ease connectivity between the two regions.
However, after work continued for a few years, the project was abandoned for unknown reasons, and all construction activities came to a complete standstill.
The public emphasized that this bridge is a basic necessity for the area. Due to its non-completion, hundreds of people especially students, women, the elderly, and patients face daily hardships.
According to them, the lack of a proper bridge forces people to cross the stream using temporary paths and unsafe means, posing a constant risk of accidents.
Expressing their disappointment, the locals noted that this bridge, which falls under the influence of two assembly constituencies, is perhaps the only project in the country where partial work was carried out by different departments, yet it remains incomplete to this day. They mentioned that the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department initially started the project, and later, some parts of it were worked on under MGNREGA, but the bridge is still far from completion.
Residents further shared that they had brought this matter to the notice of the Lieutenant Governor during his visit to Trehgam, but no significant progress has been witnessed so far. The public expressed that the continuous delay has shaken their trust not only in political representatives but also in the administration, leaving them deeply pessimistic about the project’s completion.
The public has strongly urged the administration to expedite and complete the construction of the Bungargund Bridge immediately. This will alleviate the hardships faced by the locals and ensure that men, women, elderly citizens, and school-going children are protected from potential accidents while navigating temporary routes. (JKNS)
