Since the traffic congestion is more a city problem, the authorities have put efforts to make flyovers across the various locations of the city. Given that tourism is identified as a major sector of the Kashmir economy, it has received a big public and private sector boost in recent times. Lately, the efforts have paid off and the tourist inflow in the region has geometrically increased. With this, the direct demand for vehicles increased, swelling the traffic pressure on roads, thus a need for more and improved roadways.
The first fly-over in Srinagar was completed in 2004 and cost Rs.16.32 crore. With the construction of this flyover, the commute time was lessened and the travellers got respite from a number of issues. Motivated by this success and the increasing pressure on the city roads, over the course of years, a number of flyovers were constructed across Srinagar.
The recent transformative project is expected to be realized as the Nowgam-Srinagar flyover. The project was started in August of 2022 with a budget of Rs.45 crore allotted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) projects under the Public Works Department of J&K. Given the suburban growth in the Nowagam and allied areas, alongside its massive commercialization, the traffic pressure has been growing in the past decade.
The proposed cost presented by the engineers and project managers stands at ₹36.90 crore, inclusive of a 19% GST, portraying a judiciously cost-effective system. However, a provision has been created for potential escalation of the project cost up to ₹40 crore over the period of its completion. Spanning over a length of 850 meters from the residence of Late Mr. Mufti Syed to Ahmad’s Hospital, the flyover’s total longitudinal extension is contingent upon the gradient prescribed by the designer in accordance with the recommendations of the Indian Road Congress (IRC) and MoRTH. Comprising three spans of structure; 1x42mtr and 2×25 meters—totalling 92mtrs, the designated length handed over to the flyover authorities is 850mtrs.
In conjunction with the Nowgam Flyover, significant projects at Lasjan, Sanat Nagar, and Bemina Junctions are concurrently under construction. The Nowgam Flyover particularly holds significance due to its close association with NH44.
Emphasizing the November 2023 deadline, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar had urged the project team to expedite the construction process. Noteworthy is the fact that the flyover, with four lanes, integrates two merging points—one at the commencement and the other at the termination of its course. The anticipated culmination of this endeavour is projected for July 2024, with the project slated to be seamlessly executed until June 2024.
The only all-weather road linking the Valley of Kashmir to the rest of the country is identified as NH44, spanning over a distance of 295 kilometres. This route amalgamates traffic from both the southern and northern regions, converging at the Nowgam bypass. Consequently, Nowgam has ascended to prominence as the central junction in Srinagar, facilitating unimpeded passage along the NH44 route connecting Kashmir with various states across India.
The project has locally been outsourced to ‘Mirz Infrastructure Builders’ by the Madhucon Project Limited. The source for the project has been established at a base camp situated in Lasjan. The RMC plant in operation is of SCHWING make, a reputable company renowned for manufacturing construction equipment including transit mixers, RMC plants, macadam plants, boom placers, and SLMs. With the capability to dispatch 30 cubic meters of concrete per hour, the SCHWING plant exemplifies efficiency and precision. Additionally, the project incorporates a Mecadam plant, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to construction. Notably, the technology employed follows an in-house execution model, indicating a self-sufficient approach without outsourcing for the implementation of the project.
The stakeholders from the construction company asserts that the project adheres to its designated completion timeline, yet unavoidable circumstances prompted an extension. Delays they claim, primarily stem from the requisite approvals from concerned departments for relocating utilities, such as those managed by PDD and PHE. Numerous overhead electric lines, including LT, HT, and 33KVA, obstructed the construction zone, necessitating their dismantling and relocation, with some lines being transitioned underground. Similarly, PHE utilities, particularly water pipes, had to be shifted to the far end of the Right of Way. Additionally, procurement challenges have been arising as materials have to be sourced from outside the state, including Delhi, Maharashtra, and Nasik, with transportation complications exacerbated by frequent closures of NH 44 due to landslides. The cold weather in Kashmir has further been contributing towards the construction delays.
The flyover construction, aimed at easing traffic, has been bringing significant challenges. There is an increased health risks due to raised dust levels, environmental impact from removing age-old trees, traffic chaos, economic strain from aesthetic degradation, and inadequate safety measures are some of the directly realized negative externality of the project realized way before its completion. These factors along with many others that are anticipated to be realized sooner or later highlight the need for careful planning and sustainable practices in future infrastructure projects, ensuring progress aligns with environmental and societal well-being.
The commuters along the road patch of the Nowgam flyover construction at the moment suffer time, environment, health and aesthetic costs. People of all ages suffer and the residents in the radius of the flyover especially suffer in a number of ways. It is high time that the concerned authorities take a strict call on the project and ensure its completion by the summer of 2024. As a lesson for future infrastructural developments in general and flyover construction in particular the government authorities need to do an a-priori Social Impact Assessment.
By Samreen Hamdani and Dhaar Mehak
(Authors are associated with the Department of Economics, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora J&K )