Srinagar, Feb 28: At a time when road widening is being seen as a lasting solution to traffic congestion, the authorities have planned exactly the opposite for the City centre of Lal Chowk.
 Under a special beautification plan for the commercial hub, a wide road stretch between the Ghanta Ghar and erstwhile Palladium Cinema is to be squeezed to almost half for landscaping.
 On January 15, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had granted a special fund of Rs two crore for the Lal Chowk beautification and asked the authorities to work speedily on the project and utilize the funds before the end of current fiscal.
 The package had come just two days after a fierce encounter at Lal Chowk when some buildings were damaged and the area remained under siege for two days.
 As per an official handout, the government had sought a comprehensive plan within 10 days.
 Till now, however, the authorities have spent most of the time in planning than execution of the beautification plan. And now there’s less than a month left to spend it all.
 But the plan to narrow the commercial hub road has drawn flak from various circles who say landscaping middle of the road would be nothing more than wastage of public money.
 Besides, it would to add to the traffic chaos in the area.

THE PLAN
 Just a week ago, the beautification plan was given a nod by the MoS Housing and Urban Development department and local MLA Nasir Sogami, at a high level meeting to finalize the project.
 Sources said the development plan has been conceived by the Chief Town Planner who was asked to carve out a beautification plan for around the Palladium site where the government plans to construct a mall in partnership with a non-local family.
 “The plan is to beautify the Palladium surroundings through landscaping, laying of Victorian Walkways and Benches. Besides, façade of the decayed buildings on the north side of the Lal Chowk will be renovated. A fountain is also expected to be developed,” said a source. 
 “Besides, some revamp of power transmission network, drainage construction is to be taken up,” he added.

THE FLAK
 Observers said the wide road stretch, which measures around 100 feet had been of historic importance and could serve as a benchmark for future road widening in the area.
 “The entire road network in the area could be widened to this level but authorities have planned something illogical,” said Secretary General Valley Citizens Council, Imdad Saki.
 “Everyone is aware that Lal Chowk faces worst of the traffic congestion and many a shopper shy away from the area only because of the traffic jams. But still, the authorities are hell bent to add to the public inconvenience,” Saki alleged.
 Observers fear the narrowing of the road could worsen the traffic chaos in the area.
 “Road width is inversely proportional to traffic flow. So the reduction in road width means increase in traffic flow and ultimately chaos,” explained an expert in traffic engineering.

THE IRONY
To get rid of the traffic mess, the government has started widening of the MA Road, which runs parallel to the Lal Chowk by a few yards.
 Some 10 crore rupees have been earmarked for the first phase of this road widening between Dalgate and Batamaloo.
 The government says more funds would be required to continue the road widening as some buildings in way of the project would have to be lifted.
 The shortage of funds in the past badly affected the road widening projects.
 In 2005, the PDP led coalition commissioned the upgraded Budshah Bridge and Jehangir Chowk flyover. But till now the wide bridge is yet to get a compatible road link to Budshah Chowk as the government couldn’t pool resources to lift a few structures coming way of the proposed widening of the few meter stretch.

ADMIN SPEAKS
 Despite repeated attempts, the MoS Housing, Nasir Sogami who monitors the development, couldn’t be contacted for comment.
 When contacted the District Development Commissioner, Meraj Ahmed Kakroo said the beautification plan had been developed by experts after through study.
 “It’s a well considered plan by architects and engineers,” the DDC said.
 He, however, said the road wouldn’t be narrowed for beatification.
 “We won’t do any landscaping on the main road,” he said adding the beautification apart from other things would  include underground power transmission network in Lal Chowk.

8/8 probability to fulfil Sheikh’s dream?
 The National Conference founder and the then Chief Minister of Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah had aspired that the road stretch between the Lal Chowk and Budhshah Chowk be widened to bring the twin hubs closer.
 With all the eight City MLAs belonging to the party, this time, observers say it was an 8/8 probability for the NC led government to fulfil its founder’s dream by relocating the shops between the Palladium Cinema and the Budshah Chowk and instead construct a beautiful park or a wide road there.
 “A portion of the Rs two crore beautification funds granted by the CM could be taken as a token amount to start realizing Sheikh (Muhammad Abdullah)’s dream, which could further boost the business between the two areas,” said an observer.
 But the government is silent over the issue. May be because of the erstwhile Palladium cinema site where in-place of the gutted structure, some in the government, want to construct a mall with a multiplex, in partnership with a non-local family.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST