A single-lane bridge in southern Kulgam district, that hosts inter-district traffic, has become a major source of inconvenience and traffic mess in the area, local residents alleged.
The bridge at Kawaki Bazar in Kulgam’s Qoimoh area has emerged as a significant bottleneck, slows the pace of the traffic and leads to multiple jams on an hourly basis, the residents said.
“The issue of traffic jam at Kawaki Bazar is now routine and people seem to have sort of adopted to it, authorities have been turning a deaf ear on every complain of people and ignoring most fundamental problem of the area,” said Younus Ahmad Reshi, a local resident of Kawaki Bazar.
Reshi said the delay in widening of the bridge has made it impossible for two-way traffic to pass simultaneously.
He added that this issue was brought to the notice of concerned authorities several times, however, nothing changed on the ground.
“Most of the time, ambulances get stuck in a jam, but we can’t do anything… if somebody is stuck in the jam, they have to wait for 2-3 hours,” said Abdul Salam Goru, another Kawaki Bazar resident.
Bilal Mohi-ud-din Bhat, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, told The Kashmir Walla acknowledged that traffic jams are a problem at Kawaki Bazar bridge and assured that the work on the project will be started within the next two months. “Also the road of the bridge will be macadamized in the project, the concerned authority has already been informed for the same,” he said.
