Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 11: After years of anticipation, the Lasjan flyover on the city’s outskirts was opened to the public today, bringing an end to the long-standing traffic congestion issue at the vital NH44 junction.
The construction of this vital road project initiated a decade ago, has now concluded, with officials announcing the flyover’s imminent opening. While some finishing touches are still in progress, officials have prioritised public access due to the project’s importance in alleviating traffic congestion at the junction.
“We have thrown the flyover open for traffic today. Some remaining work will be completed later. Our primary focus is to resolve the traffic issues at this junction,” Indresh Kumar, Project Director for the National Highways Authority of India, told the Daily Excelsior.
An official privy to the details said the construction of the flyover has faced numerous challenges over the past 10 years, including funding shortages and issues with the executing agency’s technical competence. After multiple missed deadlines, the Government reassigned the unfinished project to Gawar Construction Limited in August 2020. “Since then, the work has progressed well, and that is the reason behind the completion of this vital project,” he said.
Located at a pivotal intersection on the highway near the Lasjan area, the flyover was designed to accommodate the new NH44 alignment from Pampore to the Lasjan Bypass, aiming to create a grade separation for more efficient traffic flow. The grade separator will significantly improve traffic conditions for those heading towards Baramulla and the Pampore Bypass.
Commuters, who have endured prolonged traffic congestion from both the southern and northern sides of the Valley at this intersection, have eagerly awaited the flyover’s completion. They believe that the opening of the first segment was beneficial and anticipate that the second part of the flyover will completely resolve the traffic issues at this junction.
“It has been a long and frustrating wait. The first part of the flyover had already made a noticeable difference. I cannot wait to see how smooth things get once the second part opens,” Arif Ahmad, a local, said.
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