Fate of Burma Bridge hangs in the balance

People have been waiting for construction of Burma Bridge on Khanna Road, however no work on the project has been initiated for the last nine months.



On July 27, 2011, ‘The News’ drew the attention of the capital administration towards the poor condition of Burma Bridge, which was established on Nullah Korang on Khanna Road way back in 1950. At that time, it was on the verge of collapse, as it had bent down right in the middle and could have fallen down anytime and the situation has not changed even today.



However, Capital Development Authority (CDA) took the responsibility of dilapidated Burma Bridge on Nullah Korang on Khanna Road and moved a summary worth Rs100 million to the Ministry of Finance for starting repair work on it on November 16, 2011.



But the matter of the fact is that so far the funds for the repair of the bridge have not been released.



Talking to this scribe on Tuesday, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Director Roads and Maintenance (R&M) Ali Akbar Qurban said: “In November, last year, I had moved a summery of Rs100 million to the Ministry of Finance for construction work of Burma Bridge. “But, yet I have not received a positive response from concerned department therefore, work on the project has not begun.” He also said that he has send several reminders to concerned department to release funds for starting construction work of Burma Bridge because it could collapse any time.



When ‘The News’ contacted Deputy Commissioner (Islamabad) Amer Ahmed Ali, he said that they have insisted Capital Development Authority (CDA) to start construction work of Burma Bridge for avoiding any untoward incident.



“We offered full cooperation to CDA for starting construction work on Burma Bridge,” he said. He admitted that motorists and nearby residents were facing a continuous life threat because of dilapidated Burma Bridge. “I have deputed some police constables over Burma Bridge to stop any kind of moment on it,” he added.



Talking to ‘The News’ people living around the bridge and motorists said that they had filed several applications with the higher authorities for repairing the bridge, but nobody has paid any attention to their request.