Rs 63.53 crore project framed to ease traffic congestion in Sopore: Govt

Posted by admin_kas on 2025-03-10 16:08:49 |

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KS News Desk 

Srinagar, Mar 10: Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that an amount of Rs 63.53 crore project was framed for road widening and development of alternate routes to decongest Sopore town.

The government said that move address traffic woes particularly around Asia's largest fruit mandi in the area.

In response to a question by MLA Irshad Rasool Kar, the minister in-charge said there was currently no proposal under consideration with BEACON or BRO with regard to the widening of the bypass road from Amargarh to Model Town. 

The government however acknowledged that the fruit season witnesses a surge in vehicular movement in areas surrounding the Fruit Mandi, resulting in heavy traffic jams, particularly from Mazbugh bridge to bypass near the toll post.

"To address the situation, a DPR has been framed for road widening covering a 2.50 km stretch with an estimated cost of Rs 46.01 crore," the minister in a written reply said.

Additionally, a DPR for the development and strengthening of an alternative road from Mazbugh to Ashpeer has also been framed at Rs 17.52 crore.

"The execution of these projects is subject to the availability of funds," the minister in-charge informed the House.

The government said  that two major roads adjacent to the Fruit Mandi have been upgraded under the PMGSY scheme, which significantly helps in managing traffic flow.

The upgraded roads include 18 km double-lane road connecting Fruit Mandi to Warpora on Sopore-Bandipora highway and a 6.4 km double-lane road starting from Fruit Mandi to Jalalabad.

"These roads play a critical role in decongesting traffic, especially during the peak fruit season, and serve as main approach routes for vehicles coming from Zainageer, Rafiabad, Handwara, Kupwara, and Bandipora," the minister in-charge in a written reply informed the House.

On the status of three major bridges, Sopore-Mazbugh, Maharajpora, and Trussed Grid Bridge at Seer-Jagir, the government admitted to significant delays in their completion.

The Mazbugh and Maharajpora bridges, initially undertaken by JKPCC, were transferred to the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department.

"Despite repeated tendering, no response was received for the Mazbugh Bridge, leading to the project being stalled," the government reply reads.

The government said the tenders for the Maharajpora bridge were received, but the quoted rates were higher than the estimated DPR cost, further delaying the project. 

"Work is in progress for Seer-Jagir bridge, but technical issues have surfaced during the execution stage," the government said.

It was informed that the design, inspection, and quality control (DIQC) wing of PWD was currently evaluating the technical challenges.

"The project is expected to be completed once the issues are addressed," the minister in a written reply said.