SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Saturday reviewed progress on the Srinagar Ring Road project, conducting an inspection of the 46-kilometre Phase-I corridor from Galandar to Narbal and separately examining proposed alignments for Phase-III, including new stretches linking Lasjan, Dalgate, Pandach and Parimpora.
During an extensive tour of the Phase-I corridor, Garg assessed ongoing works and reviewed issues affecting the project’s completion. Officials said efforts were being intensified to make the 46-kilometre stretch motorable by the end of December.
The inspection was attended by the Deputy Commissioners of Pulwama and Budgam, Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), SSP Traffic Rural, engineers from the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL), Public Health Engineering (PHE), Roads and Buildings (R&B) and Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) departments, divisional forest officers, contractors and NHAI advisers.
According to NHAI officials, major components completed under Phase-I include 143 culverts, 23 minor bridges, three major bridges, 18 light vehicular underpasses, two flyover-cum-interchanges, six overpasses, 12 syphons and 107 hume pipe culverts.
The Divisional Commissioner reviewed transmission tower shifting, construction of underpasses and connectivity to artillery roads at various locations along the alignment.
He directed KPTCL to carry out parallel works for erection of new transmission towers to minimise power shutdowns during the shifting process and asked agencies to augment manpower to ensure adherence to project timelines.
Garg also directed NHAI to expedite bridge load testing by taking up the matter with the National Institute of Technology (NIT) and stressed the need to establish connectivity to the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) campus and Srinagar Airport in consultation with the Airport Authority of India, Air Force and Border Security Force (BSF).
He said there were no pending issues relating to land compensation or utility shifting, adding that these matters had already been resolved by the district administration. He also said NHAI would examine a proposal aimed at improving connectivity between Budgam town and the Srinagar Ring Road.
In a separate meeting, Garg reviewed proposed alignments for Srinagar Ring Road Phase-III, including the Lasjan–Dalgate and Dalgate–Pandach stretches and the proposed Parimpora–Dalgate flyover.
The NHAI technical team presented the revised alignment for the Lasjan–Dalgate section, which has been designed to bypass the Cantonment area and the Jhelum bank. Officials from the concerned departments found the alignment suitable and feasible for construction of the first eight kilometres of Phase-III.
For the Dalgate–Pandach stretch, the Divisional Commissioner directed NHAI to conduct a detailed comparative analysis of three proposed alignments and share the findings with stakeholder departments to facilitate selection of the final route.
The meeting also discussed the proposed Parimpora–Dalgate flyover, with officials recommending a revision in the alignment to avoid affecting M.A. Road.
Garg emphasised the need for coordinated planning among all stakeholder departments to ensure smooth execution of the project.
The Phase-III review meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, SSP Traffic, Director Airport Authority of India, Additional Commissioner Kashmir, Project Director NHAI and senior officers from KPDCL, KPTCL, PHE, I&FC, PWD, Air Force and BSF.
