Jammu: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has commissioned a 60-metre permanent steel bridge over the Jambhir Nallah in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, providing year-round road connectivity to several strategically important border villages.
Constructed by BRO Project Sampark, the bridge is located on the Nadpur NH-144 Link–Qila Dharhal–Lam Road and replaces an older crossing that frequently became unsafe during heavy rainfall and flash floods.
Officials said the newly inaugurated structure is the first permanent bridge to be built at this location since Independence. The project is expected to improve civilian movement while also strengthening access to forward areas in the Nowshera Sub-Division, which holds strategic significance due to its proximity to the Line of Control.
Residents welcomed the development, describing it as a long-awaited relief from years of travel difficulties. Many recalled that crossing the seasonal stream had often become dangerous during the monsoon, leaving villages temporarily cut off.
Local resident Rattan Singh said the bridge has transformed daily life for people in the area. Recalling a tragic incident from the past, he said a wedding party had once been swept away while attempting to cross the nallah, and several lives had to be rescued. He praised the BRO and its engineers for completing a project that residents had demanded for decades.
Besides improving public safety, the bridge is expected to facilitate faster movement of emergency services, school transport, agricultural produce and essential supplies throughout the year.
The inauguration forms part of the BRO’s continued efforts to upgrade infrastructure in border regions by replacing temporary crossings with durable structures capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions. Authorities said the bridge will play an important role in ensuring uninterrupted connectivity while supporting both civilian needs and strategic mobility in the region.
