Where are the safety audits? Srinagar’s crack-ridden flyovers raise design concerns

By: Imtiyaz Shah and Ambreen Khan (Ziraat Times)

Srinagar: Public concerns is mounting in Kashmir over the alarming structural quality and safety of several flyovers in Srinagar, particularly those constructed along the Srinagar Bypass Road. Citizens, engineers and urban planners are calling for an urgent safety and design audit, citing not only engineering flaws but also the environmental insensitivity and unsightly aesthetics of these elevated structures.

Incidents at Nowgam and Bemina

Public alarm escalated recently when a walling section of the Nowgam flyover collapsed partially during a brief but intense spell of rain earlier this month. Fortunately, no fatalities occurred, but the incident served as a stark warning about potential design and construction lapses. More recently, cracks have appeared on the Bemina Bypass flyover, further eroding confidence in the integrity of these vital road structures.

“The Nowgam Bypass incident raises serious questions, and barely anyone is talking about it. It is not just that incident, several sections of the Nowgam flyover look misaligned even before the rains,” said Tariq Ahmad, a local businessman. “These structures don’t feel safe.”

Engineering concerns: Outdated techniques, oversized structures

Design engineers agree many of the flyovers across Srinagar appear disproportionately bulky, with construction techniques and visual forms that experts say are decades behind modern global standards.

“These flyovers reflect an outdated design ethos,” says Er. Faheem Wani, a structural design engineer working for a UAE-based engineering design company.

“Globally, the trend is toward slim, pre-stressed segmental box girders, which are both efficient and aesthetically pleasing. What we see in Srinagar are massive, over-engineered spans with poor finishing and non-uniform alignment”, he told Ziraat Times.

Indeed, numerous flyovers along the Pampore-Srinagar bypass show concrete work that lacks linear consistency. Uneven edges, exposed reinforcement bars, and poor shuttering are common sights. Engineers point out that poor quality control during formwork, concrete pouring, and curing processes leads to these defects.

“Such flaws are not just ugly to look at — they compromise structural durability and safety, especially under dynamic loads,” says Wani.

Do regular safety audits happen?

Despite the scale of investment in Srinagar’s urban infrastructure, there appears to be no publicly known system of regular safety audits of the flyovers.

“There is a vacuum in accountability,” says Dr. Arshad Mir, a civil engineering expert.

“Once a flyover is inaugurated, oversight often ends, and maintenance is neglected. This is dangerous, especially in a seismically active and flood-prone region like the Kashmir Valley”, he said.

Environmental and aesthetic neglect

Apart from structural concerns, environmental engineers also say that the flyovers show a disregard for environmental and aesthetic considerations. Many lack proper water drainage systems, leading to water accumulation that weakens structural joints. Residents near Bemina have also reported drainage runoff from flyovers affecting their movement.

Internationally, flyovers are increasingly built with environmental sensitivity, including green buffer zones, rainwater harvesting systems, and low-carbon materials, experts told Ziraat Times. Moreover, design plays a crucial role in urban beauty — in many places in the country and globally, flyovers are integrated with urban landscapes using architectural lighting, noise barriers and landscaping.

“In Srinagar, the flyovers feel like alien monoliths, interrupting the skyline and natural contours,” says urban designer Sangeeta Patel. “This reflects a total disconnect between engineering, environment and aesthetic harmony.”

With public trust in the flyovers’ safety dwindling, citizens and experts are demanding a comprehensive third-party structural and design audit of all flyovers in Srinagar.

“Independent structural engineering firms with international credibility must be brought in,” says Er Asrar Shah, a civil engineer, specialising in safety audits. “We also need to institutionalize regular safety inspections and make those reports public.”

There is also growing advocacy for setting up a Design and Urban Infrastructure Review Commission for Srinagar that can integrate aesthetics, environmental impact, and engineering excellence.