Says Construction of Dogripora Reshipora bridges is incomplete due to lack of funds
WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: A 100-bed maternity hospital is not proposed for the Sirnoo area of the Pulwama district.
Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Minister Sakina Itoo informed this while replying to questions from MLA Pulwama Waheed Ur Rehman Para.
Itoo said there is no such proposal before the government and existing health facilities are being strengthened.
“At present, there is no such proposal for construction of 100 Bedded Maternity Hospital at Sirnoo Pulwama as the maternal healthcare facilities to the people of District Pulwama including Sirnoo area are available at District Hospital, Pulwama,” Sakina informed the assembly.
“As of now, J&K is working on consolidation of existing health facilities as around 4000 health institutes at various levels (Primary, Secondary and Tertiary) exists. J&K is among the top runners amongst large States/UTs (with population more than 1 crore) in health institution density in the country. The calculations worked as per the Report published in 2023 by MoHFW, GoI indicates that J&K has health institution on every 3500 souls against an average 6000 souls at national level,” she said.
“No future creations/upgradations are planned as of now. The upgradation of health institutions mainly depend upon multiple parameters viz; population, infrastructure, distance from nearby Health institutions, work load and fulfillment of conditionality of IPHS norms-2022 and circular instructions of the Government issued from time to time (latest vide 10-F of 2025 dated: 11/01/2025 by FD that no new posts shall be created, refer point 7(1) of Govt,” Sakina added.
“However, to improve the Health services further, among other things, the department has conceptualized to strengthen the existing health facilities through rationalization of Manpower and Resource Sharing and developing a robust e-sanjeevani/tele-medicine facilities through a well designed hub & spoke model under digital initiatives,” she said.
While on the other hand, the government has also informed in Jammu and Kashmir assembly that The construction of two crucial bridges over the Jhelum River in Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district has remained incomplete since 2008 due to a lack of funds
Government made these remarks while responding to question raised by MLA Pulwama Waheed Ur Rehman regarding the status of the Dogripora and Reshipora bridges.
Minister for R&B Surinder Choudhary said both projects are only partially completed due to financial constraints.
“The Reshipora and Dogripora bridges over River Jhelum, which connect Pulwama, have faced delays in execution,” Choudhary said.
The minister elaborated that the construction of the 129-metre span bridge at Dogripora and the 109-metre span bridge at Reshipora was initiated in March 2008 by the Jammu & Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC). He said the projects were originally scheduled for completion within three working seasons, contingent upon the availability of funds.
“However, due to fund shortages, both projects remained incomplete. For the Dogripora bridge, only the sub-structure was completed by JKPCC, whereas for the Reshipora bridge, the sub-structure was only partially completed,” he added.
Responding to another query, Choudhary clarified that the projects have not been abandoned but are temporarily halted since December 2023, following the transfer of these works from JKPCC to the R&B department, pending revised administrative approvals.
“The work on Dogripora and Reshipora bridges has not been abandoned but temporarily halted for want of revised administrative approval,” he said. The minister informed that revised Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared for the remaining work, with an estimated cost of Rs 1529.47 lakh for the Dogripora bridge and Rs 1383.01 lakh for the Reshipora bridge. These DPRs are currently under process for administrative approval.
“The work on both these bridges will be tendered once the revised administrative approvals are granted,” Choudhary said.
