Sopore Bypass Bridge to be commissioned this year:Altaf

Srinagar, May 04 (Scoop News)-Having failed to meet innumerable deadlines during the past almost two decades, the crucial bridge on Sopore bypass is finally set to be completed this year, courtesy personal intervention of the Minister for Public Works, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari.
The State Government is going to throw open the 226-meter long bridge by August this year.
“The bridge will be thrown open by August this year and there will be no more delay in the work as I am personally monitoring its progress,” Bukhari said.
According to officials, the bridge was initially approved in 1980’s, it then got stalled for some years and work was again started in 1992-93.
However, the work was stalled again and the construction of the bridge was resumed in 2004 by M/S Mir Constructions after they got the contract from Border Road Organization (BRO). The construction work was supposed to be completed within four years and bridge was to be thrown open in 2008. However, it could not meet the deadline forcing the present Government to take up the matter with the concerned authorities in the Government of India.
“We are committed to complete the bridge before the fruit season as it not only provides alternate connectivity to Kupwara and Baramulla, but also connects country’s second largest Fruit Mandi through the shortest link,” the Minister said adding the fruit growers have been anxiously waiting for decades for its completion.
He said Border Road Organization (BRO) will be handing it over to R&B Department by July end and it would be commissioned in August. The completion of bridge will also help ease frequent traffic jams in the Sopore town.
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