Though Jammu & Kashmir Government under the leadership of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha reiterates it’s commitments on completion of developmental projects particularly highways connecting districts, bridges reducing traffic congestion in twin capital cities Srinagar and Jammu and also buildings being built for establishing public facilities in given timelines but yet again some such mega developmental projects are missing deadlines. True it is the Government reviews the pace of work on such developmental projects from time to time but yet again the work on some mega developmental works is not completed in given timelines in both Kashmir Valley and Jammu division. One such developmental project missing deadlines is the the second phase of Lasjan Bypass Flyover in the outskirts of summer capital Srinagar and interestingly the work on this flyover continuing for about last ten years is not heading to any dead end. This fly over won’t only ease the local traffic it would also ease the traffic movement of the passenger and private vehicles ferrying tourists and Amarnath Yatris to their desired destinations. Though the work on the flyover is nearing completion and only it’s 10% needs to be completed but the incomplete work is not going at the pace at which it should have been fast paced this summer. Interestingly the National Highway Authority Of India (NHAI) executing the four lane Jammu-Srinagar highway project is also executing the work on this flyover. What matters the most is the fact that this flyover once completed won’t only reduce the increasing traffic congestion on Nowgam-Bemina bypass but it would also most probably resolve the pressing traffic issues on new alignment of Jammu-Srinagar four lane highway and also on the bypass leading to Baramulla and other parts of North Kashmir.
Delays in completion of this flyover is not only blamed for the increasing traffic congestion at Lasjan bypass but also for the traffic snarls at the two ends of the flyover leading to southern and northern districts of Kashmir Valley. While traffic at one end of the flyover already completed has improved, the traffic snarls at another end of the flyover yet to completed head to no dead end. Given the slow pace of work on the remaining part at the last end of the flyover the traffic snarls won’t head to any dead end before the completion of the incomplete part of the flyover which is less than 10% of the total length of the flyover”.
Though the project was initially allotted for execution to RAMKY, a Hyderabad-based construction company but the working of the project after missing many deadlines for years together was handed over to Gawar Construction Limited in 2020 which unfortunately has also missed June deadline this year set for the completion of this key flyover. Though paucity of funds, slow pace of work, and shutdowns in the valley were blamed for the incompletion of the flyover previously but such reasons can’t be cited for delays after the transfer of the execution of the work to Gawar Construction Company in 2020. Delays in completion of this flyover is not only blamed for the increasing traffic congestion at Lasjan bypass but also for the traffic snarls at the two ends of the flyover leading to southern and northern districts of Kashmir Valley. While traffic at one end of the flyover already completed has improved, the traffic snarls at another end of the flyover yet to completed head to no dead end. Given the slow pace of work on the remaining part at the last end of the flyover the traffic snarls won’t head to any dead end before the completion of the incomplete part of the flyover which is less than 10% of the total length of the flyover.
