Kashmir Digits

As a major breather for the commuters travelling on the Srinagar-Leh Highway, a two-lane steel arch truss bridge which will be first of its kind bridge at Wayil area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, has been officially thrown open for traffic.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the vital and unique of its kind bridge also known as Wayil bridge come up over nallah Sindh along Srinagar-Leh Highway in Ganderbal district. Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, DDC Chairperson Ganderbal Nuzhat Ishfaq, Principal Secretary R&B Shailender Kumar besides senior civil and police administration officials were present on the occasion. Officials said that the two-lane bridge had been approved at the cost of Rs 23.79 crore under the Jammu Tawi Flood Reconstruction Project (JTFRP) and its executing agency was R&B department.

They said that the bridge would be first-of-its-kind in Kashmir. They said that the bridge is an arch-type steel girder with a good foundation design spanning 110 meters and a width of 10.50 meters while the length of the approach roads is 330 meters. The construction of the bridge had got hiccups initially however in last two years the pace of work was progressing and expedited by the construction agency and contractors. 

The bridge, constructed using a unique combination of truss and arch bridge elements and girders, is set to become a vital link for the people of Ganderbal, replacing the old single-lane bridge that caused frequent traffic jams and delays.

The bridge is vital given its importance of connecting Kashmir and Ladakh besides tourists and pilgrims use same route for visiting Sonamarg and during annual Amarnath yatra.