GUJRAT: Delay in the construction of a bridge over a storm water drain on the road leading to Shahbazpur bridge on the River Chenab has become a cause of concern for the people of Gujrat.

They demanded that the Punjab government take measures to complete the Rs4.77 billion project.

The Shahbazpur bridge, once functional, will connect Gujrat to the Sialkot International Airport and the under-construction Sialkot-Lahore motorway. To some, it is an economic corridor for the Gujrat region.

Official sources said of Rs4.77 billion, Rs700 million had yet to be released to complete work on the Shahbazpur and storm water channel bridges, streamlining the shoulders of the river up to four kilometres up and down stream to save the surrounding land from erosion and to construct 19 kilometer approach road sections (11km in Gujrat and eight in Sialkot).

The project by the National Logistic Cell started 18 months ago and was to be completed by April last. Work on the main bridge is almost complete but there has been no construction activity since May when funds were withheld.

An official said that Rs700 mil-lion had been included in the current fiscal year schemes but it had yet to be released.

Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry President AamirNauman asked Gujrat Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Khuram Shahzad during an session to expedite work on the bridge.

The DC who was recentlyposted in Gujrat said that he inspected the site to ascertain the situation and after that he talked with officials concerned for the release of the remainingfunds.

He also asked business people to suggest the best utilization of the 11km approach road of the bridge.