Heavy vehicles ply on unsafe Mehjoor Nagar bridge

R&B Says, bridge can collapse at any time
Srinagar: Despite the bridge having been declared unsafe for the vehicular traffic by the concerned department, traffic continues to ply over Mehjoor Nagar Bridge.
Residents of the area Monday alleged that government was allowing bridges use even for heavy vehicles.
Inhabitants of the Mehjoor Nagar and its other surrounding areas said that the traffic on this bridge has risen manifold over the past few months following route diversions in the wake of Jehangir Chowk-Ram Bagh(JCRB) flyover construction. The bridge can prove disastrous for thousands of people who everyday drive over it. The Engineers have already declared it unsafe for movement of vehicles. Though mostly the light vehicles ply over it, but the traffic cops often allow the heavy passenger, and commercial vehicles as well, a local resident Mohmaad Aslam said.
He alleged that though they have brought the matter in the notice of the higher authorities but there is no response. We have brought the matter into the notice of the Divisional commissioner Kashmir but there is no response. Now we appeal Chief Minister Mufti Mohmaad Syed to intervene and look into the matter.
The residents alleged that police and civil administration were sleeping over the issue.
They said that though they put barricades on both sides of the bridge to prevent movement of heavy vehicles but they were removed by the unknown persons.
Official sources said that though in 2014 the Roads and Building (R&B) department declared the bridge unsafe for any vehicular traffic but throwing safety concerns to winds the government allowed its use for light vehicles.
We have declared the bridge unsafe but it is unfortunate that vehicles are plying over it. We fear the bridge can collapse anytime, one of the top officials of the R&B department wished anonymity said. (KNS)

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