Srinagar: In a major relief for commuters battling congestion in the Qamarwari-Noorbagh area, the much-awaited Qamarwari Bridge is set to be thrown open for public use by March this year, Chief Engineer of Roads and Buildings (R&B) Central Kashmir, Sajad Naqeeb, confirmed on Tuesday.
The bridge, which has been under construction for over 14 years, is now in its final stages, with approximately 95 percent of the work already completed.
“Only about 20 to 25 days of work remain. The delay was primarily due to adverse weather conditions, which forced us to halt construction. Now that the weather has improved, we will complete the remaining work and open it for the public in March,” Naqeeb said.
The bridge, an extension of the historic Cement Bridge, was originally scheduled to open in January. However, sub-zero temperatures in the winter months slowed down construction efforts.
The construction of the Qamarwari-Noorbagh Bridge has been marred by repeated delays, causing significant inconvenience to residents and daily commuters.
Initially sanctioned in 2009, the project was expected to provide an alternative route to decongest the bottlenecked traffic flow between Qamarwari, Noorbagh, and adjacent areas of Srinagar.
However, a combination of funding constraints, contractor issues resulted in the project missing multiple deadlines.
The opening of the Qamarwari-Noorbagh Bridge is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion in one of Srinagar’s busiest corridors. Currently, thousands of vehicles navigate through an overloaded bridge in Qamarwari, often leading to long traffic snarls during peak hours. The new bridge is anticipated to serve as a vital link, reducing travel time and enhancing connectivity between central and northern parts of the city.
Local residents and business owners have expressed both frustration over the prolonged delay and optimism about the bridge’s imminent completion. “We have been waiting for this bridge for over a decade. Every year, we were given new deadlines. We hope this time it will finally be completed and functional,” said Mohammad Ashraf, a shopkeeper in Qamarwari.
Authorities have assured that all pending works, including finishing touches, road surfacing, and safety measures, will be completed within the stipulated time frame.(KINS)
