Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Jan 22: The much-anticipated Sanat Nagar flyover along the Srinagar Expressway bypass on NH-44 is set to be finished by April this year, despite interruptions in construction caused by the severe winter conditions.
Work on the flyover has decreased during the current Chilai Kalan—the intense 40-day winter period in Kashmir—raising worries about potential delays and frustrations among commuters seeking relief from the ongoing traffic congestion at the heavily used Sanat Nagar intersection.
“The project was moving forward as planned, but over the last month, progress has not been consistent, leading us to question if it will be delayed,” stated Sameer Ahmad, a commuter.
However, the Chief Engineer of the Roads and Buildings Department, Sajjad Naqeeb, assured that the project is still on course despite the difficulties posed by freezing temperatures. “While progress has slowed, it has not come to a halt. Our current focus is on the connecting roads and other essential tasks. The flyover will be completed as scheduled,” he noted.
The Sanat Nagar flyover is part of a broader initiative by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to alleviate traffic issues at the Bemina, Sanat Nagar, and Nowgam intersections. Approved in 2018, the project involves the construction of three flyovers covering a distance of 3.23 kilometers along NH-44. While the flyovers at Bemina and Nowgam are already operational, the Sanat Nagar flyover faced delays attributed to prolonged approvals from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which took almost two years.
“The other grade separators progressed swiftly, but the Sanat Nagar flyover encountered holdups mainly due to the requirement to relocate significant utilities along the route,” an official from the Roads and Buildings Department explained.
The Sanat Nagar intersection has historically posed a traffic problem, leading to annoyance among commuters. Bashir Ahmad, another commuter, expressed optimism that the flyover will help resolve these issues. “The new flyover will cut down travel time and enhance traffic movement at this critical junction,” he remarked.
