Footbridge Near SKIMS Bemina Becomes Unusable
Srinagar, Feb 5: Despite spending lakhs of rupees on the construction of an overhead steel bridge near SKIMS Bemina, the bridge has been rendered defunct as pedestrians hardly use it.
As the bridge is at a distance from the main gate of the hospital, pedestrians including attendants cross the busy road notwithstanding the risk to their lives.
Greater Kashmir spoke to various pedestrians and officials to ascertain why the bridge has been rendered useless. Some of the pedestrians said the bridge lacks better accessibility due to which it has been rendered defunct.
The bridge, which was built because of the heavy rush of patients and attendants to the hospital, is barely being used now. The bridge wears a deserted look. Attendants near the hospital said that most of the elderly and patients are unable to use the bridge as they cannot climb steep stairs leading to the bridge.
“A sick or elderly person feels that crossing the road is more convenient. The bridge is also not exactly closer to the hospital, and that is why people feel it is time-consuming to use it. If officials can find a way to make the bridge more accessible, people will rely on it more often to cross the road,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a pedestrian.
“We have to navigate heavy traffic. This poses immense risk of accidents,” said a commuter.
Experts maintain that an underpass at the spot can address the issue and also make accessibility to the other side easy. They asked the authorities to explore the possibilities of constructing an underpass near the hospital.
Years back, the bridge on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway was opened with much fanfare, but over time, the bridge has been rendered useless. Over the past few years, there have been multiple accidents on the stretch that led to the killing of several pedestrians. While many people blame the technicality, others, including the officials, blame the lack of civic sense.
A senior official from the Roads and Buildings Department said that “people have to act as responsible citizens and not put their lives at stake. He said authorities can also find ways to make such infrastructure more accessible.
“More footbridges are on the cards in Srinagar uptown, and new projects have the provision of a lift system as well. Such provisions make accessibility easier. As far as the underpass is concerned, we will have to explore the technicalities, and only then can such projects be initiated,” said the official. (GK)
