Suhail Bhat
Srinagar May 23: Work on the Sanat Nagar flyover along the Srinagar Expressway Bypass on NH44 is expected to pick up pace after authorities resolved a key infrastructure hurdle that had been hampering progress.
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The project faced unexpected delays after a 132 KV high-tension electricity line running above the under-construction flyover was found to pose safety risks, necessitating height adjustments. These technical complications pushed the completion timeline beyond the initial April deadline.
Chief Engineer of the Roads and Buildings Department, Sajjad Naqeeb, told Excelsior that the issue has now been addressed. “The hurdle has been removed, and the work is progressing well,” he said, adding that the project is on track for completion by the end of June.
He confirmed that the realignment process is already underway. “Everything has been sorted out now,” he said.
Another official, detailing the issue, said that after deliberations with various stakeholders about safety challenges, the authorities decided to construct an additional tower nearby to realign the power line. “The KPDCL submitted a proposal that required land acquisition. Land has now been allotted, foundation work is complete, and work is underway,” the official said
However, the official questioned why the height factor was not considered at the planning stage. “It was either a gross oversight or poor assessment. This needs to be investigated to prevent similar issues in the future,” he said.
The delay had raised concerns among commuters seeking relief from the daily traffic jams at the congested Sanat Nagar intersection. “The project was progressing well, but over the past month, the pace slowed down, making us wonder if it would be delayed again,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a commuter.
The Sanat Nagar flyover is part of a broader National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) initiative to decongest key intersections at Bemina, Sanat Nagar and Nowgam. Approved in 2018, the project includes three flyovers spanning 3.23 kilometers along NH44.
While the Bemina and Nowgam flyovers are operational, work on the Sanat Nagar section was delayed due to prolonged utility clearance from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which took nearly two years. “The other grade separators progressed quickly, but the Sanat Nagar flyover was held up because of the need to relocate major utility lines,” a Roads and Buildings Department official said.
The Sanat Nagar intersection has long been a traffic bottleneck. “The new flyover will reduce travel time and improve traffic flow at this critical junction,” Majid Ahmad, a local resident, said.
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