Open space underneath flyover to be developed in three parts

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, July 29

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With work on the elevated ramp of the flyover at Jahangir Chowk nearing completion, the authorities have decided to develop the open space underneath the expressway corridor flyover in three parts.

The tenders to develop that space for car parking, business and green area would be taken up under the smart city project.

The last phase of the of the 2.14-km Jahangir Chowk-Rambagh expressway corridor flyover was thrown open for vehicular traffic on June 30. However, the construction of the elevated ramp, that would allow traffic movement towards the Jahangir chowk area, is still underway and is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

“It will take few more days to complete the work. We can then restore regular traffic on the flyover,” Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, who has been following the progress of the work on the project, told The Tribune.

But the completion of this ramp at Jahangir Chowk would not end the project, as many of its other components are yet to be taken up. Of these, the most important component is development of the space beneath the flyover on both sides.

As disclosed by the officials, the space below the flyover would be developed in three parts. First is green area. Second is for parking purpose. Besides, 10 spots would be developed for business purposes.

On the left and right side of these business units, cafes, which would be rented out, would be set up. These places would also be interspaced by green cover, to enhance the beauty of the area.

However, the development of these spaces would be taken up during the board meeting of the smart city project.

“A board meeting of the smart city project will be held soon. Development of these spaces is on our agenda as we have already got approval for it from the Chief Secretary. During that meeting, the tendering part would also be discussed,” Choudhary said.

Spots for kiosks, cafes, book stores 

• Flyover has 135 piers. Space beneath to be developed in three parts
• The green space will have plants
• Ten spots for small business units, like cafe, book shops, kiosks
• Parking spaces for vehicles on left and right sides of the business units

Expressway corridor: Facts & Figures 

• The project nears completion this July, six years after then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah laid the foundation stone 
• The expressway corridor, connecting south part of the city with its centre, missed several deadlines. Its first deadline was September 2015
• Funded by Asian Development Bank, the project had the initial construction cost estimate of Rs 351 crore, which has since then inflated
• Once fully functional, the expressway will reduce the average travel time from Jehangir Chowk to Rambagh from 28 minutes to 2.5 minutes