Research on Demand | SN Global Infra Research

Srinagar is feared to face worst of the traffic mess not for a few days or weeks but atleast some 36 months as the government is all set to close down artery to south City- Jehangir Chowk Ram Bagh road for vehicular movement to facilitate construction of the JCRB flyover, the controversial three year project pending for four years. However in a bid to avoid any massive public outcry, this two-way motorway, a vital link to south City, Srinagar International Airport, Budgam and adjoining districts like Pulwama and Shopian will not be closed in a day but slowly and steadily in a month from now. As for the thousands of vehicles, driving down the busy motorway, they are to be diverted through lanes and bylanes of the nearby residential colonies and some “congested junctions” though tests for such diversions have allegedly failed. The experts fear that the proposed diversions will just not be able to cater to the huge traffic rush which peaks to over 80000 vehicles per hour. Given the chronic delay in completion in Hyder Pora flyover, the 18 month project still void of lights even after 90 odd months, the JCRB route is feared to be in mess for decades.  The administration however insists that the plan is foolproof and that there would be no inconvenience to the people. THE PLAN Highly placed sources said “route diversion is not based on any scientific study but hit-and-trial wisdom of some officials dealing with the JCRB flyover construction.” Initially the road between Bakshi Stadium and Ram Bagh will be closed for traffic. Vehicles driving down from City centre to Ram Bagh, will have to take a left near Bakshi Stadium and then proceed towards Jawahar Nagar to reach Ram Bagh via bund.  But observers have reservations as the Wazir Bagh road connecting to Jawahar Nagar is almost half the width of Airport Road and so cannot cater to huge rush. Again the bund between Jawahar Nagar and Ram Bagh is narrower than the Airport Road. Moreover the road near the Jawahar Nagar bund is so narrow that during peak hours it witnesses huge gridlocks even ahead of the diversion. “Even though the Traffic Police has a proposal to construct bailey bridge between Jawahar Nagar and Mehjoor Nagar bunds, two way traffic will just not be possible on the narrow bunds,” said an official. On the other hand, the vehicles coming from Ram Bagh to Jahangir Chowk are scheduled to be diverted left towards Aloocha Bagh bund where a ramp will be erected near the Women’s Police Station. The vehicles will have to drive down the Silk Factory Road, presently under Army siege. “The officials are yet to decide on as to how vehicles will drive down ahead of Cargo, the police interrogation centre, because the work will be on here as well,” said the official privy to the plan.  THE SLUMBER The government also plans to divert the vehicles heading towards Srinagar International Airport and Budgam via the Batamaloo Bus Terminal which links to the Teng Pora highway, little taking into to account congestion near the yard. A shop line on half a kilometer stretch between PCR Crossing and the bus terminal is being seen as major hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic on this already congested road. “These issues have never been picked up by the divisional and the district administration during the meetings held in connection with the flyover work only because of financial constraints,” said an official in the Roads and Building department, asking not to be identified. WHAT COULD BE DONE? Experts said the shop line near Batamaloo bus terminal needs to be relocated. “Moreover some two dozen bottlenecks in the form of building structures enroute Firdousabad Batamaloo road that connects with the Teng Pora highway, via Rekha Chowk needed to be removed,” said a retired traffic police official in know of the development. The proposed “inconvenience” seems to be for the Aam Aadmi alone. Ministers, lawmakers and others putting up at Tulsi Bagh won’t have to face any trouble as the road which connects these government apartments with the bund won’t be touched.  Otherwise observers said this road could be used for diversion by construction of a ramp near the existing staircases. Besides there is dire a need to remove bottlenecks along the Abdullah Bridge- Jawahar Nagar stretch of the bund so that the road could be used for diversion. However sources said the civil administration in consultation with Traffic Police has evolved a plan to provide hassle-free movement to ministers and senior bureaucrats intending to visit Srinagar International Airport. “By the time Durbar arrives, all VIPs including Chief Minister Sahib, will have to drive down the Hyder Pora -Pantha Chowk highway to reach City centre. Though the route is a bit long, it is secure and their movement will be hassle-free,” said a police official. DELAYED MILESTONES In December 2009, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had announced that this expressway would be constructed at a cost of INR 300 crores but within three years. In reality, the paperwork alone took more than three years and the work was started on 28.09.2013. The Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) is executing the Asian Development Bank funded project. Even though the JCRB flyover proposal faced severe public criticism as being “expressway aimed at providing hassle-free movement to VIPs alone”, the ruling coalition looks at the development as “prestigious project”. But has the rehabilitation of those coming in way of the project, a prerequisite for ABD funding done, or is it seemingly messy like the diversion plan? (To be concluded) WHAT’S MISSING IN THE PLAN? The government plans to divert the vehicles heading from City centre towards Srinagar International Airport and Budgam via the Batamaloo Bus Terminal which links to Teng Pora highway little taking into to account congestion near the yard.  A shop line on half-a-kilometer stretch between PCR Crossing and the bus terminal is being seen as major hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic on this already congested road. To execute the route plan, the shop line needs to be relocated first. Some two dozen bottlenecks in the form of building structures enroute PCR Crossing-Firdousabad Batamaloo road which connects with Teng Pora highway need to be removed. Vehicles driving down from City centre to Ram Bagh, will have to take a left near Bakshi Stadium and then proceed towards Jawahar Nagar to reach Ram Bagh via bund.  But Wazir Bagh road connecting to Jawahar Nagar is almost half the width of Airport Road. Again the bund between Jawahar Nagar and Ram Bagh is narrower than the Airport Road. Moreover the road near the Jawahar Nagar bund is so narrow that during peak hours it witnesses huge gridlocks even before the diversion. On the other hand, the vehicles coming from Ram Bagh to Jahangir Chowk are scheduled to be diverted left towards Aloocha Bagh bund where a ramp will be erected near the Women’s Police Station. The vehicles will have to drive down the Silk Factory Road, presently under Army siege. There’s a need for construction of atleast two Bailey Bridges on the Ram Bagh bund for inflow and outflow of vehicles. Presently none is there though diversions are being started. There’s equally a need to remove bottlenecks along the Abdullah Bridge-Jawahar Nagar stretch of the bund so that the road could be used for diversions. The proposed inconvenience seems to be for the Aam Aadmi alone. Ministers, lawmakers and others putting up at Tulsi Bagh won’t have to face any inconvenience as the road which connects these government apartments with the bund will continue to be inaccessible for public commute.  This road could be used for diversion by construction of a ramp near the existing staircases. Source-On Request

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