Aimed for promotion of tourism in Kashmir, much-hyped historic Zero Bridge in central Kashmir’s Srinagar is now in shambles due to the lackadaisical attitude and negligence on the part of authorities.
Scores of residents and commuters on Tuesday expressed resentment against the authorities ( No department in the administration is owning Zero Bridge) for not carrying out repairs on the Zero Bridge, the dilapidated condition of which has been causing inconvenience to the people.
Umar Bukhari, a local at Rajbagh said that Zero bridge has become a hotspot for consuming drugs and its infrastructure has also been damaged.
“With damaged floor, broken benches, and other property vandalized, even lamps have been either damaged or stolen,” he said, adding that no government department is stepping forward to repair it.
“I visit the bridge on a regular basis but the damaged structure bothers me every time. The authorities must take serious steps to repair the bridge before it is damaged beyond repair,” Syed Uzair, a local said.
Uzair stated, some portion of the bridge has been burnt by the miscreants; windows have been broken and carpets have been stolen.
This bridge which had got a traditional makeover a few years back is now in shambles, Waqas Ahmad, another local said
“Every day this bridge is losing its glory and the administration is acting as a mute spectator on the issue,” he alleged.
The iconic Bridge was developed by the then government in 2012 into a tourist attraction after expending a whopping Rs 11 crore.
As per the locals, despite repeated attempts the officials at the helm of affairs have not heeded to their long pending grievance. “No department in the administration is owning this tourist attraction, some are saying belongs to R&B, while some say it belongs to tourism deptt, which is unfortunate,” locals said.
When it comes to maintenance and cleanliness, the bridge is filled with garbage. Traditional huts, floor, benches have been broken which stands as a stark example of what neglect and apathy could do to a historic bridge.
Meanwhile, locals sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for redressing this issue.
“Even sometimes, some young boys can be seen lying unconscious on its floor. In empty huts cigarette bits filled with cannabis, few injection needles, and other things can be spotted,” he said.
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