SRINAGAR: Several road widening projects in Srinagar have missed the deadlines and are awaiting completion from years due to the failure of authorities to relocate shopkeepers.
These projects include Syed Meerak Shah-Zakura link road of Rainwari and Nishat, and Khanyar-Pandach.
For smooth flow of vehicular movement through congested areas in Downtown, the authorities started expansion of the Syed Meerak Shah Road from Dalgate to Zakura in 2009. The main aim of this project is to link Shahr-e-Khaas, Hazratbal shrine and University of Kashmir.
However, despite passing of six years, the project is going on at snail’s pace.
Moreover, frequent traffic jams are witnessed near the Rainawari hospital crossing, Khayam and Khanyarm due to narrow road.
Another project – Khanyar-Zadibal-Pandach has also been left midway.
The failure of authorities to relocate shopkeepers has halted the road widening projects that has been on cards from many years.
Chief Engineer, Roads and Building department, Sami Arif Yesvi told Kashmir Reader that these projects are not coming under languishing projects as there is an acquisition problem.
“We will solve this problem very soon and will start the work,” he said.

NAZIMA SIDIQ