Srinagar proposes flyovers and roads without a vision. The government must show origins, alternatives and evidence before committing public money.
Srinagar is awash with proposals for flyovers, bridges and wider roads. Each promises relief from congestion. Yet bottlenecks persist, parking is inadequate, and pedestrians lack safe passage. The city has decades of transport studies. Its infrastructure priorities still seem hard for the public to understand.
This is not opposition to development. Srinagar needs better mobility. But public money cannot be committed merely because a proposal promises to ease traffic. A project must prove its necessity, justify its costs and fit the city’s long-term strategy.
The Planning Department commissioned mobility plans in 1992, 2012 and 2020. RITES undertook them. Srinagar Smart City Limited commissioned an Integrated Public Transport Study, completed in 2024. In January 2021, RITES submitted a final report proposing a Metro lite system. Most recommendations reportedly remained unimplemented. The Jehangir Chowk flyover was a notable exception.
What became of these exercises? Why are their findings not reflected in the proposals now advanced? The government must explain how earlier studies have informed current priorities. Without continuity, planning becomes a cycle of proposals rather than a process of accountability.
At least six major proposals have entered public discussion this year. They include a flyover cum bridge from Convent to Sangarmal, a flyover between Dalgate and Shalteng, and an elevated corridor linking Pathachuk with Pandach. Others cover Airport Road, the Western Foreshore Road and the Boulevard stretch between Nehru Park and Nishat.
Their origin, approval status and technical justification are not fully established. It would be premature to blame particular individuals or agencies. But the lack of clarity is itself a governance concern. The sponsoring agency, rationale, cost, alternatives and approving authority should be disclosed for every major project.
Three reports on October 21 show why an integrated approach matters. MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para questioned the earth filled design proposed for Shalteng and Parimpora and sought an independent review. These concerns warrant examination, though technical flaws are not established. The Divisional Commissioner directed officials to explore alternative alignments for Parimpora to Dalgate. Commuters at Tengpora faced severe congestion.
A flyover may move congestion elsewhere. Junction improvements, parking enforcement, public transport and safer pedestrian facilities may work faster and cost less. These alternatives must be compared before decisions become irreversible.
The government should publish relevant DPRs, traffic studies and environmental assessments. It should review earlier studies, create a register of major projects and compare every proposal with practical alternatives. Lakes, wetlands and drainage channels must shape decisions from the outset. Citizens deserve clear answers before Srinagar’s future is built in concrete.
