THE road from Sanat Nagar bypass Chowk to Rangreth has totally been ignored by the concerned agencies. There is a long pending proposal with the government for widening of this road and make it a 4 lane, in view of increasing rush of traffic, which has multiplied to many times in recent years due to the establishment of JAKLI center, GREF Hqrs, Rangreth Industrial Area, Airforce Station and coming up of residential colonies.
 The proposal has not seen the light of the day. In 70s’ and 80s’, the road from Barzulla Bhagat to Rangreth was used only by few vehicles of army and RTC buses and hardly any private and public transport would ply on it. The breadth of the road has since then remained the same rather shrunk due to the encroachment of road at few places.
 The Sanat Nagar square on bypass NHW has become most vulnerable intersection as a number of fatal accidents have taken place during last 3 years due to the faulty road engineering design.
 Either there should have been a. overhead bridge or a small flyover constructed at this intersection, at least, to minimize the accidents to occur. The point regarding construction of flyovers at three vulnerable intersections on bypass road like Rawalpora, Bemina and Parimpora, was raised by me in all India conference on transport, chaired by the then Union transport minister, in 2006. The then union minister after confirming from DG transport who was present in the meeting, said that these flyovers were not projected and included in the original plan by the state Government otherwise they had no dearth of funds under this scheme. Basically our leaders and planners have no vision and lack farsightedness. The rotary previously built at this Chowk should not have been dismantled till a safe alternatives found. Though four to five traffic cops are daily deployed at this vulnerable Chowk for traffic regulation but they immediately disappear at 1030 AM after giving safe crossing to two VIP vehicles of this area, leaving this point to the mercy of God.
 Though in 2008, a complete survey was made along the road side from Sanant Nagar Chowk to Wanabal and necessary markings made by the ERA but with the change of Government, no head way was seen in this regard. Though the drainage on Natipura- Choudra -Chrarisharief road has since been completed but the people living in Rawalpora, Wanabal area are not so lucky. We hope the heads of flood and Irrigation department, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, PWD, SP traffic, PHE, Economic Reconstruction Agency and the R&B will pay attention and take necessary action in their areas of responsibility.

By
Abdul Rashid Khan  IGP(Retd)
Alamdar Colony.
(The ideas expressed are author’s own. He can be contacted at  9419153691)

Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST