Not a mere bridge, but history in making

It is history being made. Once the link between Teetwal and Chilhana (now in PoK), the crumbling pillars are the only remnants of this pre-p...

It is history being made. Once the link between Teetwal and Chilhana (now in PoK), the crumbling pillars are the only remnants of this pre-partition era bridge. After 58 years, the motorable bridge is being restored to reunite the two parts of Kashmir.

The bridge, being erected by the Pakistan Army, would replace the suspension footbridge completed last week on river Neelam to transport relief materials across the Line of Control (LoC).

When India and Pakistan exchanged relief material on the 175-feet footbridge on Saturday, six labourers were seen working in Chilhana to construct a pillar for the new bridge.

Story continues below this ad

The material for the motorable bridge has been already dumped near the bridge on the other side. The suspension bridge is a few metres away from the upcoming motorable bridge.

The temporary suspension bridge was erected by the Pakistani Army over the river for exchange of relief material between the two sides for the quake hit people. Only two persons can pass on the bridge at a time.

There was a controversy over the bridge as both sides wanted to install it themselves. The Indian Army had even transported steel sheets and other material to the banks of the river for a floating bridge, but the Pakistani soldiers were against it.

‘‘The new bridge will also be erected by Pakistan,’’ said an Army officer in Teetwal. ‘‘This is the same place where the bridge existed in 1947.’’