Srinagar, 22 August (H.S.): Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today set November 15 as the final deadline for the completion of the Sanat Nagar flyover on the Srinagar expressway bypass (NH44), warning that the contractor will be blacklisted if the project is not finished on time.

Choudhary, who paid a surprise visit to the under-construction site, said the flyover was supposed to be completed in 2024 but has faced repeated delays. “This flyover should have been completed within the one-year deadline, but the contractor has failed to deliver. I came here to see why this bridge is still incomplete. If there is any lapse from an official, action will be taken,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that of the Rs 29 crore sanctioned for the project, the contractor has already received Rs 23 crore, while only Rs 7 crore remain. “I was surprised to learn how such payments were released. I have asked the new Chief Engineer to verify whether the work done matches the payments issued. The missed targets will be penalized, and if the work is not completed by November 15, the contractor will be blacklisted,” he added.

Responding to questions about reported cracks in the Bemina flyover, Choudhary said an inquiry is underway.

To ease traffic congestion at the Bemina, Sanat Nagar, and Nowgam intersections, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in 2020 approved three flyovers spanning 3.23 kilometers along NH44. While the Bemina and Nowgam flyovers are already operational, the Sanat Nagar project has been delayed due to a nearly two-year approval process by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and, more recently, the relocation of a dangerously low-hanging electricity line over the site.

The Sanat Nagar intersection has long been a traffic bottleneck, with commuters saying they are waiting for the project’s completion to ease daily congestion.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar