Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 29: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that his Government has focused on upgradation and improvement of road communication in the State with special attention on construction of bridges and viaducts to overcome traffic congestions in cities and towns and linkup far-flung villages with main highways.
Inaugurating the 2nd phase of 320 meters long viaduct over Chunth-Kul at Dalgate here, the Chief Minister said that over a dozen of important bridges are presently under construction in Srinagar district at cost of about Rs. 40 crore to smooth the traffic flow and improve road network. He said various bridges have already been opened for traffic in the district during last three years.
The Chief Minister said that during the last three and a half years more than 200 bridges have been constructed and opened for the traffic in the State. While 550 roads have been completed and about 10,000 kms of roads macadamized and black topped. He said 15 measure road projects have been completed under CRF while over 500 schemes under NABARD and more than 300 road schemes under PMGSY are presently under execution.
The Chief Minister said that the work on prestigious Rs. 356 crore flyover at Jahangir Chowk will be launched soon, adding that this facility would ease the flow of traffic and provide better road facility in the heart of the city. He said that work on fourth bridge over river Tawi is nearing completion while the work on flyover in Jammu will begin shortly.
The viaduct at Dalgate on Hazratbal road has been completed by JKPCC five months ahead of the schedule. Appreciating the Corporation for speedy completion of the work, the Chief Minister expressed the hope that other works being executed by JKPCC will show similar results.
Explaining the silent features and technical aspects of the viaduct, the MD JKPCC Madan Gupta said that the Rs. 13.38 crore bridge at Dal gate over Chunth-Kul is founded on piles with trestle type piers with carriage way of 7 meters and 1.5 meter footpath. He said the viaduct will prove highly beneficial for management of traffic at Nehru Park Dal gate junction besides improving connectivity to Hazratbal shrine.
The Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister of State for R&B, Javed Dar, Commissioner Secretary R&B, Tanveer Jahan , Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir Mushtaq Ahmad, District Development Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmad Khan and other officers were present on the occasion.