Shangla's lifeline bridge faces imminent danger

SHANGLA:

The central bridge at Alpuri, the headquarters of Shangla district, has become a major safety hazard, with residents warning that its crumbling condition could trigger a serious accident at any time.

Built during the era of the former State of Swat and later expanded in the 1970s, the bridge was designed to carry only a few hundred vehicles daily. Today, it bears the burden of thousands of vehicles, including heavy trucks and oil tankers, far beyond its intended capacity.

Large potholes have developed at the center and along both sides of the bridge, concrete slabs have broken apart, and exposed steel reinforcement is visible in several places. During rains, the potholes deepen further, while damaged safety railings and a weakened structure compound the risk. As a result, heavy vehicles frequently get stuck, causing hours-long traffic jams and immense hardship for local residents, transporters, patients, women, children, and travelers.

The bridge now serves as the primary route linking Shangla with Lower and Upper Kohistan as well as Gilgit-Baltistan. When it was constructed, the area had a small population and limited traffic, with no pressure from three Kohistan districts or the daily influx of vehicles from Gilgit-Baltistan. That reality has changed dramatically, making the bridge a critical yet dangerously overstretched lifeline.

Local residents fear that if a large bus or an oil tanker becomes lodged at the bridge's center, dozens of lives could be lost within moments. They say responsibility for any such tragedy would rest squarely with the administration and elected representatives.

According to sources in the National Highway Authority (NHA), multiple surveys for reconstruction and expansion have been conducted over the past several years. Technical teams from Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi recently visited Alpuri, prepared updated designs and reports, and spent substantial public funds on documentation and inspections. However, not a single brick has been laid. After each survey, files are either shelved or the project is postponed under political pressure, fueling public anger.

Well-informed NHA sources revealed that the primary obstacle is not technical or financial, but political. Influential multi-storey buildings reportedly owned by figures affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League stand on both sides of the bridge.

To protect these structures from potential damage during expansion, the project has allegedly been delayed as part of a vote-for-protection policy, prioritizing private interests over public safety.

During the militancy period, the bridge was subjected to heavy military traffic, including tanks, and only temporary repairs were carried out. Those repairs have since failed, leaving the structure unfit for heavy loads despite the daily passage of thousands of vehicles.

Residents have urged the government, the NHA and all political parties to set aside personal and partisan interests and immediately begin reconstruction of the Alpuri central bridge. They warn that if a major tragedy occurs, the blame will lie with an incompetent administration, silent representatives and self-serving politicians.