Crumbling bridge poses threat to users

Citizens demand immediate repair of Iqbal Town bridge to avert possible mishaps

RAWALPINDI:

Pedestrians and motorcyclists who regularly use the overhead bridge in the Iqbal Town area are in danger of becoming victims of a potential untoward incident, as a major part of the iron walkway of the said bridge is currently in a precarious condition and might break down at any moment.

Minor accidents have already begun to occur, with citizens fearing that delaying the repair work may result in a disaster sooner than later.

Those regularly crossing the bridge—including women, schoolchildren and motorcyclists—have demanded that immediate attention be paid to the fragility of the bridge and repairs be carried out on an urgent basis.

So far, the damaged part of the bridge has yet to attract the attention of scrap collectors, something which citizens have termed a blessing.

The bridge in question, which is located in Iqbal Town at the junction of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and was built 12 years ago, is gradually coming apart. Passersby Sohail Ahmad, Fahim Mushkoor and Ashraf Qureshi said that this part of the bridge has been in poor shape for the last one month, and if not fixed in time, will lead to a calamity.

Citizens have urged relevant parties including the Rawalpindi Development Authority and elected representatives to take swift action to repair the bridge, failing which a strong protest will be lodged.

Meanwhile, affectees staged a demonstration to protest the closure of roads to government schools and local settlements during the construction of the Sangjani Margalla Road.

Students of Dhoke Taman Government Primary School are reportedly unable to attend their classes because of the construction of the major road.

Residents of Dhoke Taman, Dhoke Raja Mehboob, Dhoke Baba Gohar and Dhoke Baba Ashraf, namely General Councillor Abrar Abbasi, Mohammad Akhlaque Abbasi, Farooq Abbasi, Ishaq Abbasi, Mohammad Ashfaq, Malik Yaseen, Mohammad Riyasat, Malik Tufail, Malik Rehman, Jameel, Mohammad Riaz, Mansab Khan, Mahfooz, Waqas, Malik Najabat, Abid, Sarfraz, Mohammad Munir, Akhtar, Malik Ishtiaq, Akhmat, Syed Omar, Zafar Pathan, Noman led the protest.

The demonstrators are of the view that it was ironic that while it was their area and lands being used during the construction of the road, they were also the ones suffering the consequences by losing access to schools and settlements.

Bigger protests would be staged if the said roads are not reopened for public use, they said.

Saddar Assistant Commissioner Sania Hameed, when informed about the matter in a public meeting (Khuli Kacheri), vowed to resolve the issue at the earliest.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2022.