Emphasis on preserving heritage character of city
SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today conducted an extensive tour of Srinagar city to assess ongoing development works and projects.
During the visit, the Deputy CM visited Govt. College of Education, Govt. College for Women, sites of the proposed Barbar Shah Bridge, Old Habba Kadal Bridge and Padshahi Bagh Road.
The Deputy Chief Minister was accompanied with MLA Habba Kadal Shamim Firdous, and MLA Lal Chowk Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed, along with other senior officials of concerned departments.
At the outset of the tour, the Deputy Chief Minister visited Govt. College of Education and Govt. College for Women and inspected the ongoing works there.
The Deputy CM directed the concerned officials to complete the pending works without further delay with adherence to the quality parameters. He also interacted with the students, teachers and other staff members during the visit.
Later, the Deputy CM inspected the site of the Proposed Barbar Shah Bridge taking up from Rata Rani Nai Sarak to Bund Exchange Road with clear span of 100 meters. The new bridge has been proposed at an civil cost of ?15.25 Crores apart from the acquisition cost.
The Deputy CM was apprised that the project involves the construction of a 2-Lane Plate Girder Bridge featuring a 7.50-meter carriageway and 1.50-meter footpaths on either side.
On completion, the bridge connecting Nai Sarak Barbarshah to MA Road via exchange road will serve as a vital link over the Chount Khul, significantly decongesting traffic in a crucial part of the city and providing relief to a population of over 500,000 souls.
The Deputy CM reviewed the project proposal and was briefed by officials on the technical specifications and execution plan. Subsequently, he directed the R&B Division Srinagar to proceed with Detailed Project Report (DPR) with considering all the components viz shifting of utilities, land acquisition and the technical feasibility.
The Deputy CM also visited the Habba Kadal area to assess Old Habba Kadal Bridge’s motorability while directing the R&B Division Karan Nagar for repair of damaged decking along with direction of assessing its structural safety following the recent floods.
Later, discussions were held at Padshahi Bagh regarding the works to be executed and prioritized in the coming days.
He also interacted with local residents, community elders, and members of the traders’ federation, listening to their concerns and suggestions. He assured them of developmental works aim to preserve the heritage character of the area while providing modern amenities.
The Deputy CM reiterated the government’s commitment towards time-bound completion of all vital infrastructure projects in Jammu & Kashmir. He directed the concerned executing agencies to resolve any existing bottlenecks, closely monitor the finishing works, and ensure that these projects are dedicated to the public within the announced timeline to enhance the ease of living for the citizens of Srinagar and preserve its heritage character.
