Srinagar, 29 September (H.S.): Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Choudhary today informed the Legislative Assembly that total road length of 118.06 KMs has been successfully macadamized/upgraded across Srinagar District during the current financial year through the joint efforts of the PW(R&B) Department and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).

The Minister was replying to a question raised by the legislator Ali Mohammad Sagar.

The Minister said that under special development directives, 15.43 KMs of road length have been upgraded specifically within the Khanyar Constituency till date.

The Minister informed the house that the R&B Department's community centres in Srinagar have generated an annual revenue of ₹6,83,000/- in the 2025-26, up from ₹4,15,000/- in the previous year, which is being actively utilized toward essential maintenance works.

The Minister said that the department continues to aggressively pursue bottleneck removals on historic transit corridors under the oversight of the High-Level Committee (HLC).

“With regard to Syed Meerakshah Road (SMS Road), out of the total 10.33 Km stretch, 2.68 Km has been fully widened (25.95% physical progress) and settlement as well as acquisition have been successfully completed for 132 out of 332 affected structures. Similarly, for Khanyar-Zadibal-Pandrath (KZP Road), the total road length is 12.45 Kms. Out of 314 structures, 161 structures have already been acquired, achieving a physical widening of approximately 2.00 Km of the road corridor. In respect of Koolipora-Budoobagh Road (Special Reference) a critical 435-metre road widening project has achieved a completed stretch of 231 metres. Out of 29 structures, 14 have been cleared. The remaining 15 cases are currently undergoing fast-tracked resolution. The project stands approved at an estimated cost of ₹450.00 lakh”, the Minister informed.

Deputy Chief Minister further informed the House that the widening and upgradation proposal for the Devi Angan-Hawal Road has been submitted under the CRIF scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 31.25 crore. The proposal includes Rs 30 crore for land acquisition and utility shifting and Rs 1.25 crore for development works along an approximately 1.40-kilometre stretch. The project will be taken up after the requisite approval is received under the scheme.

On the Alamgiri Bazar Chowk project, Deputy Chief Minister stated that the work has been authorised under the UT Sector at an estimated cost of Rs 335 lakh, including acquisition of five structures and redesigning of the junction. Administrative approval has been accorded by the Chief Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Department, Central Kashmir. An amount of Rs 20 lakh was allocated during the financial year 2025–26, while the case is presently under examination at the Administrative Department level for further necessary action and release of funds.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar