SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, has announced that Srinagar’s iconic Boulevard — running along the banks of Dal Lake — will soon be expanded into a four-lane road to ease traffic congestion.
The proposal, however, has triggered concern among environmentalists, who warn that the move could have severe ecological consequences for the city’s fragile lake ecosystem.
Reacting to the news, a hotelier, speaking to Ziraat Times, said that the widening plan could lead to the demolition of several hotels and even the construction of concrete roofing over sections of Dal Lake. This doesn’t seem to be a business-friendly idea, he added, requesting not to be quoted.
“This may even involve cutting down the social forestry belt along the lake, which would be an ecological disaster for Srinagar,” Naseer Ahmed, an environmentalist cautioned.
Government officials argue that the project is necessary to address rising traffic pressure along one of the city’s busiest stretches. “Boulevard is an important artery, particularly for residents and tourists accessing the Dal Lake area. Expanding it is highly needed to ease congestion,” a senior official said.
The debate highlights a wider dilemma between infrastructure development and environmental preservation in Srinagar, where fragile ecosystems coexist with pressing urban demands.
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