Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: Minister for Public Works, Floriculture and Gardens & Parks Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today toured different areas of the Srinagar city connecting Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover project to take stock of construction work and requisite traffic diversion plan.
Bukhari was accompanied by senior officers including District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Lone, Chief Engineer S K Razdan and officers of traffic and police departments. The Minister inspected various spots wherefrom the traffic is to be diverted.
After reviewing the pace of construction and the traffic movement in the area, the Minister said the Government would evolve a comprehensive traffic plan at a high level meeting of officers that has been scheduled for tomorrow evening at the Banquet Hall.
He said after assessment need for traffic diversion plan was felt in order to alleviate the sufferings faced by the commuters on the given route. The Minister assured that a plan will be formulated to ensure that people don’t face any inconvenience in view of the construction and macadamization of Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh road.
He said Jehangir Chowk Rambagh road may be required to be closed for traffic for a day to facilitate construction work and the normal traffic will be routed through an alternative loop connecting the adjacent areas. He appealed people to cooperate and understand the seriousness of the requisite construction work on this important road.
The Minister asked the PDD officers to repair all street lights across the city without any delay and assured the release of maintenance grants accordingly.
“There is no doubt that Kashmir has witnessed worst disaster during the September 2014 deluge but that phase is now over. The construction material dumped by the people on roadside is not only hampering the free flow of traffic but is bound to give a bad impression to the tourists who come from outside state and the country,” Bukhari said.
During his visit the Minister visited Jehangir Chowk, Sarai Bala, Tulsi Bagh, Naaz Crossing and others adjoining areas.
Several deputations met the Minister and put forth various issues pertaining to day today problems confronting them.
The Minister assured the deputations that their genuine demands would be addressed on priority.