Reasi, Oct 30: Residents of Chamiyara and Kotli areas of Katra tehsil in Reasi district have urged the central government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to immediately construct a bridge over Pai Nullah between Kotli and Chamiyara, highlighting the difficulties faced by thousands of people due to the absence of a proper crossing.
Abdul Quddir Kundria, a local social activist, writer and poet, points out, “Pai Nullah, which originates from the sacred surroundings of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, flows between the areas of Chamiyara and Kotli. Nearly 30,000 people reside in these areas and their adjoining villages, including Kotli, Chamiyara, Seri and Sirla. Although roads have been constructed in the area with the support of the Railway authorities and the government, the absence of a bridge over the nullah continues to cause serious inconvenience to the local population.”
Kundria stated that a bridge over Pai Nullah near Noudevyian on the Katra-Reasi National Highway was also in a damaged condition.
Nearly half of the structure was damaged during the previous monsoon season.
“Since a large number of vehicles use this bridge throughout the day and night, its present condition poses a serious threat to public safety, particularly during heavy rainfall,” he maintained.
Kundria, in a press statement issued on behalf of local inhabitants, urged the concerned authorities to undertake its immediate repair or construct a new bridge without further delay.
He further emphasised that constructing a bridge between Chamiyara and Kotli would serve a much larger public purpose beyond providing connectivity to the local population.
It, he said, would also act as an important alternative route between Katra and Reasi.
“In case the existing bridge near Noudevyian gets further damaged or the Katra-Reasi National Highway is disrupted due to heavy rains or any other reason, the Chamiyara-Kotli route may provide an alternative passage for vehicles, helping maintain connectivity between the two important towns,” he maintains.
Kundria appealed to the central government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to treat the demand as a matter of public importance and initiate the construction of a bridge over Pai Nullah between Chamiyara and Kotli on a priority basis.
He said that the proposed bridge would bring considerable relief to nearly 30,000 residents while also strengthening road connectivity, public safety and alternative transportation facilities between Katra and Reasi.
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