Budgam, Feb 14: The vital Chadoora bridge in Budgam, which connects Srinagar to Charar-i-Sharif and Yousmarg, has remained closed to traffic since November 28, 2025, due to structural damage caused by floods. The prolonged closure has caused severe and ongoing inconvenience for residents, who are now forced to take alternative routes.
Locals said that since the bridge was shut, they have been grappling with traffic jams and muddy roads. “Sometimes, people who are unaware of the alternative route attempt to cross the flowing river and end up stranded in the water for hours, especially during these cold winter days,” a resident said.
Nazir Ahmad, a resident, recounted a recent incident: “An auto tried to cross the river in the evening, as the occupants did not know about the alternative route via the college side. They remained stuck in the river for hours. We are thankful to the Chadoora police, who helped rescue them and saved their lives.”
“The administration has opened an alternative route from the New Bus Adda side, but it remains plagued by traffic jams as the road is narrow. People continue to face hardship. Students reach institutions late, and patients, particularly pregnant women and the elderly, cannot reach hospitals on time,” he added.
Another local, Yaqoob Ahmad, said that despite assurances from the administration since the very beginning about installing a Bailey bridge as an alternative route, more than two months have passed and people are still waiting. “On January 27, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said that the department had assured him the Bailey bridge would be completed soon, yet 17 days later, the work remains unfinished,” he said.
Residents have urged the government to install the Bailey bridge at the earliest to prevent further suffering. They have also appealed to the LG administration to look into the condition of the main bridge so that restoration work can begin as soon as possible—(KNO)
