Srinagar, Oct 01: For commuters travelling through Srinagar bypass, clearing the Tengpora-Moominabad-Shalteng stretch has become a frightening experience which they have to endure without any respite in sight.
With the construction of two flyovers along the road — one between Tengpora and Moominabad, and the other at Parimpora-Shalteng junction, continuing without showing any signs of reaching completion anytime soon, people passing through this area can’t help but curse their stars, and then hurl choicest abuses and invectives at the authorities for obvious reasons.
SSP Traffic City, when contacted by ‘Kashmir Images’, said the traffic problem was primarily a consequence of the ongoing flyover construction (Tengpora-Moominabad stretch), with the existing slip road now carrying the entire traffic load.
He said the slip road is only around 14 feet wide, through which even two vehicles can pass only with difficulty, and currently it is the only connecting passage available for traffic in the area.
“There is a lot of traffic on that road, and it is difficult to manage it,” the SSP said, adding that the situation would continue until the flyover construction is completed.
The SSP said traffic personnel are deployed at the spot throughout the day to regulate and manage the movement of vehicles.
When pointed out that some car dealerships in the area or the firm involved in construction of the flyover have seemingly also encroached upon the limited space by way of erecting temporary wall-like structures using tin sheets, the SSP said even as there has been no violation or “mucking” by anyone that his staff had observed in the course of managing traffic there, but “would nevertheless look into the specific concern raised about the tin sheets”.
“I will see what the matter is. If there is anything like that, we will take action,” he said.
A visit by a Kashmir Images correspondent to the spot found tin-sheets erected along the slip road near the car dealerships, further drawing attention to the limited space available for traffic movement.
The correspondent also attempted to ascertain from the contractor why the sheets had been erected and whether they were part of the construction arrangements. However, despite repeated attempts, a meeting with the contractor could not be arranged.
Workers at the site kept asking the correspondent to return the next day or the day after. The same response continued for several days, with the correspondent unable to meet the contractor even after waiting for around five days.
The contractor’s version could therefore not be obtained on the reason for erecting the tin sheets, leaving an important aspect of the situation unexplained—whether the structures are part of the flyover project’s approved arrangements or have been put up for some other purpose.
The sheets have been erected around areas where vehicles are kept on display outside the dealerships. Commuters allege that the structures leave even less usable space at a point where traffic is already struggling to move.
The lack of a response from the contractor also raises questions about who authorised the structures and whether the road space being occupied has been formally earmarked for any construction-related requirement.
The SSP’s assurance that he would inspect the matter could now provide clarity on the issue.
For commuters, the distinction is clear: they understand that construction of the flyover will cause temporary disruption and say they are prepared to tolerate inconvenience that is unavoidable. Their concern is whether whatever road space is presently available can be kept free from additional obstructions.
With the flyover still under construction, traffic authorities say the pressure on the 14-foot slip road is likely to persist. But if the tin sheets are found to be unnecessarily restricting the passage, commuters hope the authorities will remove the additional obstruction and ensure that the limited road space remains available for traffic.
