Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Construction work on the Kharpora-Hakura Bridge in Anantnag is progressing steadily, with the project being built at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore. The bridge, long awaited by residents of the area, is expected to significantly ease movement across a stretch of river that has historically posed serious difficulties, particularly during the rainy season when rising water levels make crossing hazardous.
Officials overseeing the project say the structure will provide major relief to communities who have for years had to navigate unsafe river crossings to reach schools, markets and health facilities. Once complete, the bridge is expected to connect the tourist destinations of Kokernag and Achabal via NH-244, adding a direct link between two of South Kashmir’s better-known attractions while also easing daily commuting for residents, schoolchildren and farmers in the surrounding villages.
Local residents have expressed gratitude to the R&B Division Dooru for taking up the construction, saying the project marks a meaningful step toward improved connectivity in an area that has for years relied on informal or seasonal crossings. Beyond passenger movement, the bridge is also expected to benefit the region’s agriculture and horticulture sectors by improving access to markets, storage facilities and other infrastructure critical to farmers and orchardists.
Speaking to DD News Srinagar, Executive Engineer of the R&B Division Dooru, Mohd Ashraf Khan, said the division is targeting works worth approximately Rs 30 crore across various projects in the current year, of which the Kharpora-Hakura Bridge forms a key component. He said the department was working to complete the bridge at the earliest opportunity, in order to deliver the connectivity and relief that residents of the area have long sought.
The project fits into a wider pattern of infrastructure investment across Anantnag district, where successive bridge and road projects have been used to knit together villages historically cut off during monsoon months. For residents who have adapted their daily routines around seasonal water levels for years, the bridge represents a tangible, long-promised change to how the area functions through the year.
With work continuing on schedule, officials say further updates on the bridge’s progress will follow as construction advances toward completion.
