CHITRAL: construction of the Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) bridge over Chitral River at Osiak village in the historical town of Drosh has been completed by communication and Works department (C&W) which causing for happiness of people of that area. Before this, there was an old wooden bridge over the river in Osiak which had become very dangerous and many precious lives have been lost due to several accidents in past. thousands of people in dozens of villages are living here across the river near to Afghan border. But due to non availability of a jeepable bridge on this river, these people could neither carry their household goods on this old bridge nor cargo and loaded vehicle can pass on it because the old wooden bridge was in very dilapidated condition. People were often forced to unload firewood and other heavy goods from vehicles across this bridge and only light vehicles can pass over it. Now the RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) bridge has been built on this river, and now these people will be able to take heavy machinery and loaded vehicles over it easily. According to Executive Engineer of C&W Tariq Murtaza this bridge is 92 meters long, 7 meters wide and 13 meters high, which was built with a cost of 102 million. Tender of this bridge was auctioned in the year 2016 but its path was obstructed due to passing through a government garden, now instead of going there, its road was diverted and passed on the right side of the bridge. On the construction of this bridge, a wave of happiness spread among the people of the area and they are expressing their happiness.
Qari Jamal Nasir, Aftab Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Ehtisham Additional Chief Warden Civil Defence, Maulana Khan Shirin, and others while talking to this scribe said that the construction of this bridge will bring happiness and easier in the lives of thousands of people living across the river until janjirat koh valley, because in the past, when the people here used to take goods to their home, the loaded vehicle could not pass on this old bridge and people were forced to unload the goods and carry them on their shoulders. Now that the RCC bridge has been built and it will carry easier in their life.AS the area has a lot of minerals, forests and other natural resources that can be extracted and brought here by heavy machinery.
Asmar Khan, owner of the construction company, said that now there is little work left. Since this bridge is built on the river, but the road leading here is coming from height and the bridge is very below from population and main road , now a protective wall will be built on road bank toward river and a shoulder will also be built on both sides of the road, so this road and bridge will be very safe and people will be able to cross it without any danger. The elders of the area also highly praised the contractor Asmar Khan that he worked very honestly because the previous contractor who had taken his contract in tender earlier had not started the work and was tempted to do so. If the rate increases he will claim more money from C&W, it will benefit him more, on which C&W department forfeited his security fund and work was handed over to an other contactor. Now Asmar Khan has done a very standard quality work very fast and people are giving him prayers.
With the construction of this bridge over the river at Osek, tourists will also be able to travel without any risk to visit the centuries-old historical places and forts in the valley of Janjjirit Koh , which will also boost and promote tourism in this region. By uplifting tourism this backward area will also be developed.
By: Gul Hamad Farooqui.
