ABBOTTABAD: The National Highways Authority has started repair of the small bridge on main Karakoram Highway at Fawara Chowk here.

The 120-year-old bridge was in bad shape and commuters and traffic police had been demanding its urgent repair.

The police have diverted traffic on the inner lane of the main road from Fawara Chowk to another route.

Officials present on the occasion told mediapersons that the repair work would be completed within a month.

SP Traffic Tariq Mehmood and NHA officials said that the bridge was being used by people of at least six districts of Hazara and Northern Areas, loaded vehicles of CPEC and goods and public transport vehicles. It was stated that condition of the bridge was worsening day by day and the repair work was started on Saturday after complaints by general public.

Another complaint lodged with the administration was about removal of the encroachments from areas near the bridge.

However, action from the district administration in this regard is awaited.

Hazara Qaumi Mahaz chairman Qazi Mohammad Azhar, meanwhile, criticised the relevant departments for their negligence to remove illegal encroachments and recover valuable land from land grabbers, especially near main KKH in Abbottabad area.

NHA Hazara region director Akhunzada Khan Wazir and contractor Mujahid told this correspondent that they would work day and night to complete the repair work on the bridge and reopen it to all sorts of traffic as soon as possible.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2020