Concerned Citizens Group Seeks Rethink on Srinagar Flyover Project, Calls for Wider Consultation

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Ziraat Times
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Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, Mar 15: The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to halt and review the proposed bridge-cum-flyover project over the River Jhelum near Polo View, calling for wider consultation with stakeholders before any further steps are taken.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the civil society group appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to initiate a comprehensive consultation process involving business representatives, traffic engineering experts and urban planners.

The GCC said it has received multiple inputs raising questions about the structural and urban planning rationale behind the proposed infrastructure and whether the project would effectively address Srinagar’s traffic congestion.

“The government must urgently consult members of the local business community, traffic engineering experts and urban planners to determine whether the proposed bridge and flyover will genuinely ease traffic congestion in the long run or merely shift the problem elsewhere,” the group said.

The organisation also voiced concerns about the potential impact of the project on the heritage character of the Polo View area, which is surrounded by historic buildings and major commercial establishments.

According to the GCC, construction of the project could encroach upon the limited green space of the nearby Polo Ground, potentially affecting the environmental and aesthetic landscape of the city.

The group said these concerns had earlier been communicated to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary through a formal memorandum but no response had been received so far.

“A decision of this magnitude, affecting the cultural and urban landscape of Srinagar, should not be taken in isolation. It must involve experts and local stakeholders whose lives and livelihoods will be directly impacted,” the statement added.

The GCC urged the administration to prioritise sustainable and consultative urban planning, balancing the need for improved infrastructure with the preservation of Srinagar’s historic character and environmental assets.

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