Danish Gul
SRINAGAR
Patients suffer by the non-functional Rs 3.5-crore foot bridge constructed at JVC hospital Bemina. Having no alternate crossing point options, patients have to choose a dangerous two lane speedy By-Pass to reach the hospital.
In December 2010, the MoS R&B Javed Ahmad Dar had said that the walk-way would be on “ultra-modern lines”. However, five years have passed and the foot bridge is yet to be thrown open for masses.
Neither a sub-way, zebra crossing, nor a traffic signal, more ever not a single traffic cop is present there to direct a safe passage for patients.
The foot-bridge is almost complete, however, its approaches are yet to be completed and the work has been stopped.
“It took us more than 10 minutes to cross the road from both ends and 5 more minutes to reach the emergency room with my patient,” an attendant said.
Many times Bemina bypass has been in news for accidents and mishaps.
Aarif Bhat, who sells fruits outside the hospital said, “frequented by hundreds of people every day from the By-Pass is dangerous as no crossing is available, mishaps often happen here”.
“I once lost steering control as people were furiously crossing, I thank God that I managed to control my car or a disaster could have happened,” said Mubashir Dar, a local resident of Bemina.
“Delaying the development of health care centers can be stated as the delay in the social and moral development of the society,” said a doctor.
However, when contacted, Chief Engineer R&B argued that the delay was due to the lack of funds, which now has been granted and now we will boost up the work and finish it within few weeks.
