Srinagar Ring Road Phase-I targeted for December-end opening: Div Com

Raja Syed Rather

Srinagar, Sep 26: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Saturday said that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set December-end as the internal timeline for completion of Phase-I of the Srinagar Ring Road.

He said efforts are also underway to expedite the work and make the road available to commuters at the earliest.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the visit, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg said the inspection was aimed at assessing issues at different locations and finding ways to support contractors so that the project could be completed within the stipulated timeline.

“NHAI has fixed the end of December as the timeline for completion and efforts are underway to accelerate the progress so that the timeline can be achieved,” he said.

He said representations had also been received from local residents regarding the road, while several MLAs had raised the issue and sought early operationalisation of Phase-I.

“Transmission towers had been identified as obstructions affecting the progress of the project and the district administration has completed the compensation disbursement process related to the towers,” he said.

The Divisional Commissioner said the road would help reduce the traffic load on Srinagar and improve connectivity between North and South Kashmir. “The road will directly connect Pulwama with Narbal and facilitate traffic movement towards Gulmarg, Baramulla, Bandipora and further towards Sonamarg,” he said.

He added, “Phase-I of the Ring Road will connect with Phase-II, which will take the connectivity towards Ganderbal, while the subsequent phase will connect Ganderbal with Pandach. The objective is to complete a ring around the region, and this is the first stage of that effort.”

On airport connectivity, the Divisional Commissioner said ADSA had discussed a proposal for providing connectivity towards NIFT and Srinagar Airport. “NHAI will internally move a proposal in this regard so that the town can also benefit from the project,” he said.

The Divisional Commissioner said the proposals would require consultations with various stakeholders, including airport authorities, the BSF and the Air Force, and that the consultations were being taken forward simultaneously.

Regarding the completion timeline, he said NHAI has set December-end as its internal target, while actual progress would also depend on factors including weather conditions and manpower availability.—(KNO)