Tanveer Hussain
Budgam: A long-standing tussle between two contractors has left locals of Shalnaar, Arigam, Frestwar, and adjoining villages in Khansahib area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district in distress, as a vital bridge project sanctioned more than seven years ago remains incomplete.
While speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, the villagers said that the bridge, which was first proposed in 2016 and officially sanctioned in 2018, was meant to connect seven villages, easing access to schools, hospitals, and essential services. However, a prolonged dispute between the contractors handling the project has brought the work to a complete halt.
Villagers said that despite repeated assurances from the Rural Development Department (RDD) and the district administration, no visible progress has taken place on the ground. “It has been years of waiting and disappointment. The construction started with great hope but has been left midway due to a dispute between two contractors. We are paying the price for their conflict,” said a local from Shalnaar.
The delay has severely affected daily life in the region. Students and patients are among the worst hit, as they are forced to take long detours to reach schools and healthcare centres. “During emergencies such as medical crises or fire incidents, the absence of this bridge puts lives at risk,” another local resident said.
The villagers have repeatedly approached authorities to intervene and resolve the dispute so that the bridge work can resume. They allege that administrative indifference has compounded their suffering. “The incomplete bridge stands as a symbol of government neglect. It’s been nearly a decade, and we still have no basic connectivity,” locals remarked.
The villagers have now appealed to the District Administration Budgam and Rural Development Department to take immediate action, mediate between the contractors, and ensure that the project is completed at the earliest.
Officials from the department, when contacted, said the matter will be reviewed and steps will be taken to expedite the completion of the project once legal and administrative hurdles are cleared. [KNT]
