Additional 2-lane Ramban flyover opened for traffic

Ramban, Nov 4: The newly constructed additional two-lane Ramban flyover was thrown open for traffic on Saturday.

The 1.8-km Ramban flyover is part of the four-lane project on the Udhampur-Ramban section.

With the opening of an additional two lanes, the work on the Ramban flyover project has been almost completed.

A Traffic Police officer said that traffic was diverted through this newly-constructed viaduct.

He said that with the opening of this additional two-lane viaduct, the problem of routine traffic jams in Ramban town would end as the old alignment of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway passes through Ramban town.

On Wednesday, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced that the work on the Ramban viaduct spanning a length of 1.08 km with four lanes built at Rs 328 crore situated on the Udhampur-Ramban section of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was completed.  The engineers of construction company Gammon India Pvt Ltd engaged by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) said only some work on the pedestrian pathway alongside the flyover was pending and efforts were being made to complete it in a couple of days. The engineers of NHAI said that the work on the pedestrian pathway culvert was in progress.

However, they said that an additional two lanes of Ramban viaduct were opened for traffic.

Earlier, the work on two out of four lanes of the 1.08 km long Ramban flyover was completed.

The flyover was opened to facilitate the vehicle-ferrying Amarnath yatris on July 1, 2023. A week later, it was opened for normal traffic.

The work on the additional two-lane viaduct, running parallel to this structure was also completed and it was also opened for traffic.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said: “The construction of this 26-span flyover (viaduct) incorporates various structural arrangements utilising concrete and steel girders. It serves a dual purpose: firstly, it relieves congestion in Ramban Bazaar, ensuring smoother movement of vehicles; secondly, it facilitates the seamless passage of vehicles on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we remain unwavering in our commitment to providing Jammu and Kashmir with exceptional highway infrastructure.”

The completion of the Ramban flyover significantly alleviates traffic congestion in Ramban Bazaar, facilitating the smoother flow of vehicles.

“Embracing the leadership of PM Modi we stand dedicated to providing J&K with a superlative highway infrastructure. This monumental achievement not only propels regional economic prosperity but also augments its allure as a top-tier tourist haven,” the Union Minister posted on X.

The four-lane project work on the Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal sections has been going on for more than a decade. The four-lane work on the Udhampur-Ramban section from Udhampur to Nashri in Ramban district is almost completed whereas the work on the Nashri-Dalwass stretch, additional 2-lane tunnel on Peera-Chanderkote and Mehar-Cafeteria Morh, and Ramban tunnels is going on at a slow pace.

The four-lane project work consisting of various tunnels, bridges, and widening of road stretches between the Ramban and Banihal sections is also going on but at a slow pace.