Srinagar, May 1: The officials Wednesday confirmed that the construction of Rambagh- Jahangir Chowk Flyover phase-II and TRC Grade Separator (mini flyover) has been completed and it is ready to be opened.
Both the Projects had missed several deadlines affecting the traffic badly in the summer capital. The work on the flyover had started in 2013 at a cost of Rs 369 crore while as the foundation stone for the grade separator was laid by former chief minister late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in December 2015 at a cost of Rs 64 crores.
One of the top officials of the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), which is the executing agency for the flyover and TRC Grade Separator said, that the work including blacktopping on both Phase-II flyover and Grade Separator will be completed within five days. “ The work is going on smoothly and has picked up pace. The work on both the stretches is expected to be completed in five days . The blacktopping have already been started,” the official said.
However the official maintained that the final decision on date of opening of both the stretches will be taken by the state administration. “Our job is to complete the work but it is the government who will decide when to open it for traffic ,” the official said.
The first phase of the flyover from Barzulla to Gogji Bagh was thrown open to traffic last year. The flyover project has six access ramps — Jehangir Chowk, Indoor Sports Stadium, Aloochi Bagh, Rambagh, Zum Zum complex, Natipora, and MET station, Barzulla.
Funded by Asian Development Bank, the flyover is expected to decongest the traffic on the road towards Barzulla and the Srinagar airport.
The flyover is expected to reduce the travel time from Jahangir Chowk to Rambagh from 28 minutes to 2.5 minutes.
It is also to mention here that the state government had fixed May 2019 as the deadline for TRC Mini Flyover (Grade Separator).
Earlier this project missed four deadlines set by the government. The project executed by JKERA, as per officials was envisioned in 2009 as a solution for traffic mess in the city centre.
The total project cost of TRC Mini Flyover (Grade Separator) is Rs 64 crores. The foundation stone for the grade separator was laid by former chief minister late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in December 2015 and was to be completed by December 2016. However, the law and order situation in 2016 delay completion of the project.