Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Sept 7: The construction of three-grade separators along Srinagar expressway bypass on NH-44 is awaiting approval from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways despite the passing of one year since National Highway Authority of India submitted a detailed project report.
At a cost of Rs 135 crore, three grade separators were proposed along the National Highway to relieve traffic congestion at busy intersections such as Bemina, Sanat Nagar, and Nowgam. “We submitted the detailed project report to the union ministry a year ago, but we have yet to receive approval,” an official said.
After the Central Government approved Rs 574.16 crore annual plan for National Highway works in Jammu and Kashmir for 2020-21, the NHAI approached the ministry. “The projects were supposed to be funded by MORTH but the process has been delayed due to unknown reasons. The Asian Development Bank had previously agreed to fund the project, but that did not happen,” the official said, adding that projects would have eased traffic congestion at busy junctions.
These crossings have been a constant source of concern for commuters, who are frequently stuck for hours in traffic jams at these intersections. The junctions were so inconvenient that the traffic police recently constructed experimental diversions at these locations, but they continue to cause problems for commuters.
According to locals, the projects would have improved the transportation scenario in Srinagar because it receives a large number of vehicles from North to South Kashmir. “It also receives a lot of traffic of security vehicles. Civilian traffic is frequently stopped for a half-hour or so to allow these vehicles to pass,” a local said.
Arun Kumar Pinjari, NHAI’s project director for Srinagar said he was unaware of any such proposal, but that they are currently working on an overhead bridge near the Lasjan area on NH44, which would be finished soon.
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