People here in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district are aghast after government stopped work on the under construction Chakii Drugmulla bridge due to lack of funds.The bridge will connect scores of villages including Hatmulla, Neagri, Shatpora, Malporachak with one another. The project was started in June 2011 under NABAD with a cost of Rs 6 Crore 72 lakh. The first installment of Rs 324 lakh was released after the launch of the project while rest of the installments was stopped.“We were forced to stop the work on this vital bridge half way as government didn’t release the funds. Recently, Roads and Buildings Minister Nayeem Akhtar visited the spot and assured that Rs 1.5 Crore will be released for the completion of the project, but till date that promise remained limited to lip service only.The locals while seeking the intervention of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that they are facing lot of hardships in absence of this vital bridge. (CNS)