Slow pace of road repairs at Nowpora leads to massive traffic jam

Srinagar, Mar 24: Sluggish pace of road repairs at Nowpora locality has been causing massive traffic jam on the busy stretch.

This stretch at Nowpora is the vital link that connects Downtown with city centre areas. But, it has turned into a nightmare for those navigating the area, given the slow pace of work on the road and footpath.

The road has been dug up from Khayam intersection to Nowpora leaving narrow passages for vehicles to pass through. This has not only led to severe traffic congestion but has also made it extremely challenging for commuters to pass by smoothly.

"The situation is simply unbearable. The road is in shambles, and it feels like the work has been dragging on forever. Only few labourers are working on the road. There should have been a double shift to expedite construction of the road," said Muhammad Irfan, a commuter.

He said the Khayam-Nowpora stretch was known for its historical significance “but has turned into a mess as commuters struggle to navigate through the chaos.”

"We do not have the problem with the work, but the pace of work which should pick up and provide a relief to the residents and commuters," Irfan said.

Besides this, the ongoing work on the Dalgate Bridge further compounds the issue, with commuters facing delays and bottlenecks at every turn. "The authorities need to understand the gravity of the situation."It is not just only about inconvenience but about the safety of commuters and the smooth functioning of traffic," said Idrees Ahmad, another local.

"Amid the delayed execution of work, we keep our vehicles and even two-wheelers at home and walk by foot to reach the city centre," he said.

The residents said the lackadaisical approach to the work was annoying. "The executing agency needs to press adequate men and machinery to complete the project," the residents said.
They complained that the executing agency has been working at its will and whim without considering the problems faced by the commuters.

A top official said the work on the Khayam stretch was marred by the lack of coordination between the three executing agencies which are simultaneously working on the stretch. The official said the Smart City, UEED and City Drainage department were working on the stretch.

"There is no coordination at all between these executing agencies which proved costly for the early completion of the project," an official said.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Bilal Mohi ud Din Bhat said the district administration was aware about the problems faced by the commuters due to the ongoing work on the project.

"I completely understand that people are suffering but we are trying to expedite the work and hope that the work on the project gets completed by next month," he told Greater Kashmir.

He said the macadamisation of the stretch will also be done once there will be improvement in the weather.

"I know it is painful to pass through that stretch. But the problem will be resolved," he said.
About the slow pace of work on Dalgate bridge, DC Srinagar said the work will be expedited and completed soon.