Hundreds of residents of Habba Kadal locality staged a protest against closure of the bridge since 5th of August 2109, when New Delhi revoked Article 370, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Locals were protesting against the closure of the bridge since last more than six months, which they said has created tremendous difficulties for them.
The local residents, shopkeepers and people from adjoining areas assembled on the road and raised slogans against the administration for keeping the bridge closed for a record period of time.
They said that due to the closure of the bridge, they have to travel a longer distance to go to the areas across the bridge, which otherwise takes few minutes.
A lady Aisha said, “I had to get the check up of my ailing son done in dispensary, on the other side of river, a distance which can be covered in 5 minutes, but I had to walk almost 2 kilometers to reach there along with my sick child.”
A shopkeeper Mustafa said, “The Bridge was closed on 5th August 2019 as a `security’ measure, but if government is claiming now that the situation is peaceful, why is the bridge still closed for public use.”
He further said, “Even after the closure of more than 6 months, the bridge is still closed, while we have moved from pillar to post to get the bridge opened, but to no avail.”
“We are losing business and customers prefer to go to other areas for shopping because of inaccessibility to our area”, he added.
The protestors requested the authorities to look into the matter and considering the sufferings they are in, the bridge will be thrown open immediately. (CNS)