The under-construction bridge connecting border village Pargwal and adjoining areas directly with Jammu may miss December 2020 deadline as the structure will not be completed due to “shortage of funds”.
The border residents, however, are unhappy with the pace of the work and appealed to the Centre and also to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene and get their concern addressed.
The bridge named as Pargwal-Indripatan bridge is coming up in Akhnoor tehsil and yet to see a ray of light in view of funds shortage.
Pargwal-Indripatan bridge is one of the largest projects in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Senior General Manager, VKG Constructions (Executing Agency), Ravendra Mishra here told UNI that since December 2019, no funds have been released and the work is almost suspended.
“The last instalment was made in December last year,” said the General Manager adding that in the last more than 20 months, only 25 to 30 per cent of the work has got completed and only limited funds were sanctioned.
“The 1640 meter long bridge is to be completed at the total cost of Rs 220 crore out of which, only Rs 14 crore has been paid till date,” said Mr Mishra adding that the construction company has spent Rs 22 crores from its own pocket, which is also not yet reimbursed.
He said that it will be impossible for the agency to meet December 2020 deadline, adding, “though construction work has resumed but at snail’s pace and that too because we have hired huge cranes and paying @ Rs 20 lakhs rent per month to keep them engaged.”
“Limited staff is working at the site due to funds shortage,” said the General Manager adding that no funds have been disbursed despite knocking the doors at the highest level. Terming the bridge as ‘lifeline’ for border villages, a local said, “It was one of the major demands but, unfortunately, the project is lingering on due to funds shortage.”
Around 35,000 households will get benefitted once the bridge will be ready.
At the time of border firing or flood-like situation in River Chenab, the border dwellers have to migrate to safer locations but, in absence of the direct connectivity, presently they have to take a long route to link with Jammu.
The villages fall under the constituency of senior BJP leader Jugal Kishore Sharma, sitting Member Parliament from Jammu-Poonch.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 laid foundations of around 44,000 crore development projects for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at a function in Vijaypur before Parliamentary elections.