Srinagar: The four-lanning of Srinagar-Qazigund highway and Jehangir Chowk-Rambgah Flyover will completed in September this year, relieving people of major travelling hiccups.
Talking to KNS the Minister for Roads and Buildings, Naeem Akhtar, said that work on these two projects is apace, and if the situation remains peaceful, the projects will be dedicated to public in September.
The minister said that the roads in the Valley will be macadamized and the department has started work on the major and link roads across Kashmir.
The four lanning of Highway was started in June 2011 with the completion deadline in 2014. However, the delays due to land acquisition, officials hurdles, 2014 floods and 2016 uprising stretched the project being constructed by RAMKY constructions.
The four-laning project was divided into six sub-projects, Jammu-Udhampur road (65 km), Chenani-Nashri tunnel (9.2 km), Ramban-Udhampur road (43 km), Banihal-Ramban road (36 km), Qazigund-Banihal road (15.25 km) and Srinagar-Banihal road (67.7 km).
Among these stretches, Jammu-Udhampur road (65 km), Chenani-Nashri tunnel (9.2 km) were completed and work on other stretches is ongoing.
“All the issues regarding the four-lanning of the highway have been sorted out and our entire focus is now on its completion,” the minister told KNS.
About the the Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh Flyover, the minister said that work on the project is apace and will be hopefully completed in September.
The project, on which work began in 2013, is funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and executed by Economic and Reconstruction Agency (ERA).
The 2.4-km flyover too missed many deadlines due to dispute with shopkeepers, flods in 2014 and 2016 uprising. Its completion is expected to reduce the travelling time from Jehangir Chowk to Hyderpora and will ease traffic jams in the city.
Asked about macadamisation of raods in the Kashmir valley, the minister said that the process has been started and major and link roads are being macadamsied.
“We will macadamize all those roads which have got damaged and the link roads in the villages and towns will be repaired and metalled,” the minister said. (KNS)
