GUJRAT: The highways department has recommended the change in the plan of the proposed bridge over river Jhelum, linking Malakwal with Pind Dadan Khan. The bridge is now likely to be built at Damen Khizar Park instead of previously selected site near Chak Nizam of Malakwal.

A survey team of engineers belonging to irrigation and highways departments inspected the newly proposed site on Thursday.

Superintendent Engineer (SE) Usman Meer of highways department, who led the team, said a technical study for the bridge and site investigation had been under way and construction was expected to start by December.

The Punjab government has approved Rs1.54bn for the project and initial installment of Rs270m had been released.

A railway bridge at Chak Nizam has the only source of commuting between the towns of Malakwal and Pind Dadan Khan over the river for the last many decades and the people cross the river through on boats. The railway bridge was closed for motorcyclists and cyclists some months back.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2017