Minister for R&B, Gardens, Parks and Floriculture, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has instructed authorities of R&B department to start reconstruction of Old Barzulla bridge at the earliest. He also asked the officers of PHE Department and BSNL to take necessary measures for shifting of water pipes and telephone cables traversing the bridge.This was stated by the Minister while reviewing the progress of the project at an officers meeting at civil secretariat here today.Chief Engineer, R&B, Kashmir, SK Razdan, Superintending Engineer, R&B, Nisar Ahmad, Superintending Engineer PHE, Latief Ahmad and General Manger, BSNL were present on the occasion.
Underlining the need for coordinated work, the Minister asked the officers to ensure that public services are not affected during the shifting of utilities. He asked the authorities of R&B department to provide corridors to both PHE Department and BSNL for laying new utilities through the proposed bridge. He asked them to ensure timely completion of the project and maintaining quality of work at all levels.Giving the details of the project, the Chief Engineer, R&B said that the bridge has been declared unsafe for use and department has formulated a plan for reconstruction of the bridge to make it motorable, he added. He said Rs 3.84 crore have been earmarked for the project and is targeted to be completed within two years. However, in view of the importance of the bridge, he assured the Minister that efforts would be made to ensure its completion within one and a half year. He said 2-lane singe span bridge has been designed in view of the previous years’ floods to allow smooth flow of waters.
The Minister also took up the issue of poor internet connectivity and broadband services in Kashmir with the General Manger, BSNL and sought further improvement in the services. The General Manger said that every effort is being made to give better services to the customers of BSNL. He said the services remained affected in certain areas because of damages caused to the cables in September 2014 floods.