Kormang Bridge: Awaiting 14 yrs For Reconstruction After Earthquake

News Desk

Peshawar: The Kormang Bridge, which connects three union councils in the Shangla area and 0.1 million people, is still awaiting reconstruction after being destroyed by the earthquake on October 8, 2005.

Union Council Former Member Ashfaq Ahmad said Around 18 years have passed since this bridge was demolished in the earthquake of 2005, and despite the release of funds and the beginning of construction on this crucial source of connectivity, the bridge is in poor condition and poses a concern to people crossing the bridge.

Ahmad told me that funds were released for the reconstruction of this bridge in 2008; however, when work on ERRA projects was closed, the project could not be completed.

The former PTI government took charge of completing this project and restarted work on Kormang Bridge, Ranyal Bridge, and Mian Killay Road, but they were never finished, which caused numerous issues for the residents in terms of getting where they needed to go.

Funds of Rs 40.5 million were released for Kormang Bridge on the advice of former Labour Minister KP Shaukat Yousafzai; however, the project is yet unfinished.

Ashfaq stated that the situation is causing hardship for the locals, who are compelled to cross the bridge on foot. Because the bridge could not hold the load of the vehicles, schoolchildren and patients in particular are having difficulty crossing it, said a UC Former Member.

The locals have demanded of the Advisor to PM Amir Muqam and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Dr Ibad that they take a special interest in the reconstruction of the bridge to provide much-needed relief to the local people.