118.06 km roads macadamized, upgraded in Srinagar: Minister

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 29: As many as 118.06 km of roads have been macadamized or upgraded across Srinagar district during the current financial year, but several key road-widening projects continue to face delays due to land acquisition, compensation and litigation issues.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, replying to a question by MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar in the Legislative Assembly today, said 15.43 km had been upgraded in the Khanyar constituency under special development directives.

On Syed Meerakshah Road, only 2.68 km of the 10.33-km stretch has been fully widened, marking 25.95 per cent physical progress.

Acquisition and settlement have been completed for 132 of the 332 affected structures, the Government said.

The Government's detailed reply put the total compensation liability for the project at Rs 336.24 crore, against which Rs 61.293 crore had been released, leaving Rs 274.947 crore pending.

It cited litigation, land and ownership disputes, missing Section 4 notifications and compensation-related issues among the reasons for the delay.

The Khanyar-Zadibal-Pandrath (KZP) Road, measuring 12.45 km, has seen around 2 km of widening, with 161 of 314 structures acquired.

The project has achieved about 16 per cent physical progress, according to the Government's reply.

On Koolipora-Budoo Bagh Road, 231 metres of the 435-metre stretch has been completed and 14 of 29 structures cleared. The project has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 4.50 crore.

Choudhary said the Government was pursuing bottleneck removal on key transit corridors through the High-Level Committee (HLC).

The Devi Angan-Hawal Road widening proposal has been submitted under CRIF at an estimated cost of Rs 31.25 crore, including Rs 30 crore for land acquisition and utility shifting.

For Alamgiri Bazar Chowk, work has been authorised at an estimated cost of Rs 3.35 crore, including acquisition of five structures and redesigning of the junction.

The case is under examination at the Administrative Department level for release of funds.

On Buchpora-Hazratbal Road, acquisition cases involving 34 structures have been taken up, with two structures acquired.

The Babapora-Habba Kadal Road has largely been cleared, with four structures remaining, while 24 structures are still pending acquisition on Habba Kadal-Gowkadal Road.

The Fateh Kadal-Habba Kadal via Chinkral Mohalla Road involves acquisition of 176 structures. Thirteen have been notified under Section 4 and eight acquired through the HLC.

Choudhary said delays were also linked to court cases, family title disputes and compensation assessments, adding that a streamlined mechanism was being implemented to settle pending land acquisition claims.