After years of delay, Dalgate Bridge to be thrown open on June 30

Srinagar, June 9: After years of delays and missed deadlines, the long-awaited Dalgate bridge is finally set to be completed by the end of this month.

The completion of the bridge will bring much-needed relief to residents and commuters who have suffered lingering traffic congestion in the area.

The Dalgate bridge, which links several key areas including the City Centre, Downtown, and Boulevard, has been under construction for an extended period, causing severe traffic snarls and disruptions in the surrounding localities of Dalgate, Boulevard, Khayam, and Khanyar.

Sajad Ahmad, Chief Engineer of the Roads and Building Department (R&B), confirmed that the bridge will be opened for public use by June 30.

"By the end of this month, the bridge will be completed and is going to be thrown open soon," Ahmad told Greater Kashmir.

The authorities overseeing the project cited logistical challenges and weather-related delays as reasons for the repeated missed deadlines.

However, their extended timeline has drawn criticism from residents and commuters, who demand a swift resolution to the traffic chaos plaguing the area.

The delay in the bridge's construction has been a source of frustration for commuters, who have been forced to take alternative routes, overburdening the MA Road and making travel to Downtown, the City Centre, and Boulevard a hectic task.

"We have suffered on a daily basis due to chronic traffic jams. Essential service vehicles are also stuck in traffic jams," said Afaq Shafi, a resident of Downtown.

"The repeated delays have been extremely frustrating. We understand that there were challenges, but it felt like there was no end in sight," said Zara Khan, a local business owner.

"This bridge is crucial for reducing travel time and improving access to various parts of the city."

The Dalgate bridge project is part of a larger plan to upgrade Srinagar's road network to better handle the increasing traffic volume.

"The completion of this bridge is a significant step towards improving the overall infrastructure of Srinagar. It will not only ease traffic congestion but also enhance connectivity within the city," said Asif Qureshi, a local resident.

Mehmood Ali, a commuter from Khanyar said that we are looking forward to the day when we can finally cross the Dalgate bridge without worrying about getting stuck in traffic for hours.