Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, July 21: The construction of the Nowgam and Bemina grade separators along the Nowgam-Bemina stretch of NH44, which are part of a city decongestion plan, have been facing delays as the projects have missed the June deadline.
Officials familiar with the matter told the Excelsior that the recent delay in construction was primarily attributed to design-related complications regarding the flyovers. Although the construction work had been advancing steadily, the Roads and Buildings Department, along with the contractors, encountered challenges in reaching a unanimous agreement on the design.
“The design aspect holds immense importance for such infrastructure projects, and the department simply could not afford any concessions. Consequently, additional time was required for the approval process, thereby resulting in a delay in the construction work,” elucidated an official with knowledge of the situation.
Acknowledging the slight delay, Chief Engineer of the Roads and Buildings Department, Rafiq Ahmad, assured that the work is progressing well compared to the past. He expressed confidence that both projects would be completed between September and October.
In a determined effort to ease traffic congestion at critical intersections including Bemia, Sanat Nagar and Nowgam, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) proposed the construction of three impressive 3.23-kilometer flyovers along NH44 in Srinagar. The much-needed facilities would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore in 2020.
Originally approved by the former Roads and Buildings Minister, Syed Altaf Bukhari, in 2018, these projects have unfortunately encountered significant delays since their inception. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when the Government sanctioned an annual plan of Rs 574.16 crore for National Highway works in Jammu and Kashmir during 2020–21. While the initial plan involved funding the projects through the Asian Development Bank, a decision was later taken to shift operational responsibilities to the NHAI.
The delays in the construction work have led to traffic disruptions and inconveniences at these crucial junctions, with commuters eagerly awaiting the completion of the projects. Although there are no major traffic snarls at the Bemina Junction due to sufficient road space, the Nowgam Junction experiences frustrating traffic congestion, posing an ordeal for commuters.
“The construction is ongoing, but they should complete it quickly as it takes a long time to cross the Nowgam Junction. There is a traffic mess all around here,” Faisal Ahmad, a daily commuter, said.
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