Budgam, Dec 2 (KNS): Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement, Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, has appealed to the Accountant General (AG) of J&K to conduct an inquiry into the damaged Chadoora bridge and carry out a fresh performance and environmental audit.

The appeal comes after authorities ordered the closure of the bridge over the Doodh Ganga stream in Chadoora town, Budgam district, last Friday.

Vehicular traffic, including heavy and light vehicles, has been halted following expert assessments that declared the structure unsafe due to damage sustained in recent floods.

Dr. Muzaffar said the bridge, which had been functioning adequately after the September floods, developed structural snags over the past two weeks, particularly affecting the middle pillar.

He attributed the damage to both engineering flaws and human intervention, including large-scale riverbed mining and embankment filling along the Doodh Ganga.

“The 50-meter-wide Doodh Ganga has been flowing through a 10-meter-wide canal for many years, causing immense pressure on the bridge.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThere are engineering and manmade faults, and I appeal to the AG to conduct a performance as well as environmental audit of the bridge and the stream,” he said.

The Chadoora bridge serves as a key link connecting Srinagar with Chadoora, Charar-i-Sharief, Yousmarg, and several other areas of Pulwama.

A nearby diversion bridge, constructed after the 2014 floods, remains unrepaired, forcing commuters to use smaller village roads to access these areas.

Dr. Muzaffar urged the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps and the 53 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) to assist in restoring the diversion bridge and easing traffic movement in the region.

“The diversion bridge must be restored immediately, and the Army can play a significant role in ensuring connectivity,” he added.(KNS).