Minister for Public Works Naeem Akhtar and Minister for Information Technology, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports Imran Raza Ansari today laid foundation stone of Rs 11.37 crore bridge to be built at Sultanpora, Pattan.
The Ministers said that the bridge will go a long way in connecting the people of Pattan in Baramulla with Sonawari constituency of Bandipora. Naeem Akhtar said that with the start of work on the bridge, a long awaited dream of the people will come to fruition. He said that the bridge over Ferozpura Nallah will have a span of 200 metres and will join the two constituencies at Nowgam, Zalpora. He was speaking to a large gathering of people at the event. The bridge will be built under Central Road Fund will usher a new era of economic prosperity in the entire region, the Minister said.
Naeem Akhtar said that the government is committed to develop all the areas of the state with equality. He said that the government will also upgrade the Hamry to Sultanpora road from single lane to double lane. He appealed the people voluntarily remove all encroachments for the doubling to happen with earnest.
He said that the bridge once commissioned will ultimately take the Hamry-Sultanpora road to Bandipora road and then to Srinagar. He said that the travel from Sultanpora to Srinagar will be a journey of 30 minutes when the entire road stretch will be completed. He said that it will give a fillip to the fruit sector in the region.
He also announced that the bridge will be named as Molvi Iftikhar Memorial bridge as it was the dream of late leader to establish the bridge.
Minister for Information Technology, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports Imran Raza Ansari said that in the past people had been hoodwinked in the name of development but now every project will be completed which has been announced. He said that a new era of development and progress has been started in the state.
To promote the sports activities in the area, the Minster also announced construction of a sports stadium at the vacant ground in Sultanpora. He said that all the problems related to lack of drinking water, roads and healthcare will be taken care of within the shortest possible time. He said that a major water supply scheme that will supply water to all the adjacent villages will be commissioned in a month’s time. He appealed the people to be part of progress and development by watching over the quality of works.
MLA Zadibal Abid Ansari, MLC Yasir Reshi, Chief Engineer R&B and other officials were also present on the occasion.