JAMMU, FEBRUARY 18: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today said that the government has undertaken various key road projects and corridor developments to decongest traffic flow across downtown and arterial roads in Srinagar district.
The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Legislator Tanvir Sadiq in the Legislative Assembly.
He informed the House that projects currently under various stages for execution included Nowshera to Soura (KZP Road), Saida kadal to Ashaibagh (SMS Road), Devi Angan-Hawal road besides Alamgiri Bazar Chowk and Mirza Kamil Sahib (MK Sahib) Chowk corridors.
“The road stretches in downtown Srinagar, being old alignments, are struggling to cope with increased traffic, urbanization, and commercial activity, leading to congestion during peak hours,” stated the Deputy CM.
He said that routine maintenance and necessary repairs are being carried out periodically to ensure traffic ability and road safety.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that with preliminary assessments for improvement and widening of identified stretches have been undertaken. “Comprehensive widening in most cases entails substantial land acquisition, shifting of utilities and removal of encroachments, requiring inter-departmental coordination,” he said.
He added that the land acquisition process has also been affected in certain stretches due to court litigations, thereby impacting the progress.
Sharing details, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that the structures near Nalbal Bridge part of Nowshera to Soura (KZP Road) have been acquired while acquisition of remaining structures would be taken up after settlement/negotiation in the High Level Committee (HLC) and finalization of pending court cases.
He said survey for widening of Saida Kadal to Ashaibagh (SMS Road) is presently underway for a length of approximately 1.75 km. Besides, the proposal envisages widening of the carriageway from 7.50 meter to 21.00 meter and Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being submitted after completion of survey and feasibility formalities.
He informed that the preliminary project report for widening/upgradation of Devi Angan–Hawal Road has been prepared under CRIF for an estimated cost of Rs. 31.25 crore (including land acquisition and utility shifting cost of Rs. 30.00 crore and development cost of Rs. 1.25 crore) for a length of 1.40 km. “The project shall be taken up upon approval under the scheme and subject to the availability of funds,” he said.
He said that the project of Alamgiri Bazar Chowk stands approved under UT Sector 2025-26 for an amount of Rs. 335.00 Lakh which includes acquisition of 05 structures and junction redesigning.
Further, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the project of Mirza Kamil Sahib (MK Sahib) Chowk Junction redesigning has been approved under UT Sector 2025-26 for an amount of Rs. 135.00 lakh.
He said that the government is cognisant of the traffic congestion issues in downtown Srinagar and the necessity of ensuring smooth movement of ambulances, fire services and other emergency vehicles. He said that the road up-gradation and improvement works are being undertaken in a phased manner.
“Improvement works such as resurfacing, strengthening, drainage correction and junction re-modelling are being executed under regular R&B grants and other infrastructure development schemes,” he added.
The supplementaries were raised by Legislators Mubarik Gul and Shamim Firdous.