Bridge is vital link for Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi
Waris Fayaz
Sopore, Sep 05 :
As Kashmir’s fruit trade gears up for the peak season, concerns over the condition of the vital Sopore bypass bridge have resurfaced, with Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Irshad Rasool Kar expressing dissatisfaction over the repair works carried out by authorities.
As per the details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), authorities took up repair works on the Tulibal bridge on Saturday afternoon following repeated concerns over its deteriorating condition. However, MLA Kar said the repair work was unsatisfactory and did not address the concerns surrounding the structure.
Kar said he would take up the matter at an appropriate forum, while stressing the importance of ensuring the safety and reliability of the bridge, particularly during the fruit season when the movement of horticultural produce increases significantly.
The 216-metre bridge provides an important route for transporting fruit to and from Sopore Fruit Mandi — Asia’s second-largest fruit market – and serves as a crucial link between border district Kupwara and Srinagar.
Locals and commuters have repeatedly flagged the poor condition of the bridge, saying its deteriorating structure has made travel difficult and raised concerns over the safety of commuters and transporters.
The bridge has undergone repair work several times in the past after concerns over its condition grew. Recently, on May 16, traffic was even diverted for two days to facilitate the restoration of the damaged structure.
Earlier, the Sopore MLA had raised concerns over the safety of the bridge in the Legislative Assembly and had sought a safety audit of the structure—(KNO)