MIRPUR (Kashmir English): The under-construction Mirpur-Islamgarh Rathoa-Haryam Bridge over Mangla Dam reservoir is swiftly moving towards its completion with the AJK government showing special interest in the project, it has been officially said.
The construction work on the bridge remained stopped for over last 11 years. Once complete, the bridge would connect Mirpur city to adjoining Islamgarh town and significantly reduce travel time for hundreds of thousands of passengers.
The project is likely to be completed by the mid of next year.
The project was launched in 2011 as part of the Mangla dam raising project but construction work was stalled in 2015 due to the alleged mismanagement in the project.
About 80 percent of the bridge’s construction had been completed but the project was stalled due to the non-construction of the 160-metre-long central span.
After the approval of additional funds from Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) last year, work resumed in January this year.
Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) is engaged in the completion of the area’s gigantic project, digging pillars in the marshy ground using German-made machinery, as the current water level is low in the Mangla Dam.
According to the project director, the last 125 meters of the bridge is being constructed under the balance bridge system to protect it from fluctuations in water levels and flood rails.
Initially, the project was estimated at Rs 1.3 billion, but with the passage of time and due to several obstacles, the cost has now exceeded Rs 9 billion.
The government has re-approved Rs 5.5 billion for the early completion of the bridge.
Mirpur to Islamgarh Chakswari
The bridge would reduce the travel time from Mirpur to Islamgarh Chakswari and other areas to a greater extent bridging both of the adjoining thickly populated towns with Mirpur city.
