| At first light, CM Omar takes pulse of Srinagar's development | | |  Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today undertook an extensive early-morning tour of Srinagar city, covering all eight Assembly constituencies, to take stock of ongoing development works, inspect key infrastructure projects and assess the delivery of public facilities and civic amenities on the ground.
Beginning the tour at around 6:30 am, the Chief Minister visited a number of important project sites covering road and traffic infrastructure, healthcare, heritage conservation, sports facilities and other urban development works. He reviewed the physical progress of the projects with officers and executing agencies and sought timely completion of works so that their intended benefits reach the people at the earliest.
At Barbar Shah in Habba Kadal, the Chief Minister inspected the site for the proposed multi-span bridge over Choont Khul, a project aimed at improving connectivity to Shehar-e-Khaasand easing traffic congestion in the area.
The bridge is being executed by the PW(R&B) Department, Srinagar Core Division, at an estimated cost of ?32.50 crore, Designed as per IRC codal standards and MoRTH specifications and taking into account the requirements of Seismic Zone-V.
The Chief Minister was briefed that the bridge is expected to facilitate smoother movement of commuters heading towards Shehar-e-Khaas, streamline traffic flow, improve road safety and strengthen urban mobility in the historic core of the city.
The Chief Minister also inspected the newly constructed building of the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC), Maharaj Gunj. The upgraded facility, located in the historic heart of Shehar-e-Khaas, is intended to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve patient care through enhanced infrastructure.
During his inspection of the medical facility, the Chief Minister was informed that brickwork, internal plastering, door and window framework, tile work on all three floors and window fixing have been completed. Electrical works are about 85 per cent complete, while the fire-fighting system has been completed. Roofing of the adjacent building (Structure-B) has also been completed and overhead water tanks installed.
At Mirza Kamil Sahib Chowk, Hawal, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the beautification, upgradation and junction improvement project, aimed at improving traffic management, pedestrian movement and the overall appearance of the important urban junction.
The project, under the UT Sector, has a cost of ?132.85 lakh. The proposed works include upgradation of the existing road pavement, development of pedestrian-friendly footpaths, new kerbs and drainage arrangements, road markings, traffic signage, bollards, delineators and glow studs. The project also provides for modern LED street lighting, decorative illuminated butterfly and tree sculptures, and solar traffic blinkers at pedestrian crossings to enhance pedestrian safety.
At Sub District Hospital (SDH) Habak, Hazratbal, the Chief Minister inspected the ongoing construction of the new hospital building and reviewed the progress of the long-pending project.
The scope of the project includes waterproof cement concrete works, wooden flooring, CGI sheets and painting, KhatamBand work, papier-mâché, chiselling of Devri, strengthening of roofing, ashlar stone work and Devri cornices. The Chief Minister was informed that roofing, wooden flooring inside the mosque and Khatam Band work have already been completed.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the major road-safety infrastructure project involving construction of flyovers at Parimpora and Shalteng Junctions on the Srinagar Bypass (NH-44).
The project, being executed under Road Safety Works on EPC mode, has an approximate total length of 2,000 metres, with elevated portions of 105 metres at Parimpora and 92 metres at Shalteng. The six-lane facility has a deck width of 14 metres for the specified carriageway arrangement and provides for approaches, service roads, drainage and utility corridors.
The estimated cost of the project is ?85 crore with a project duration of 48 months. The Chief Minister was also briefed that strengthening of the truss has been completed.
At SKIMS Medical College and Hospital, Bemina, the Chief Minister reviewed the progress of two major institutional buildings-the 250-bedded IPD Block and the College/Laboratory Block.
The 250-bedded IPD Block has an approved cost of ?83.94 crore. The project has achieved 80 per cent physical progress and is targeted for completion by December 2026.
The College/Laboratory Block has an approved cost of ?88.23 crore, The project has achieved 66 per cent physical progress and is targeted for completion by December 2027.
The Chief Minister also inspected the site of the new High Court Complex at Rakh-i-Aksha, Bemina, a comprehensive project having an approved cost of ?908.20 crore.
The main building, comprising two basements, ground floor and six upper floors, will house courtrooms, Judges' chambers and lounge, Bar rooms, meeting rooms and podium parking.
The proposed Western Block, comprising two basements, ground floor and five upper floors, will accommodate the judicial branch, Registrar chambers, library, lawyers' chambers, cafeteria, medical branch, archives and podium parking. The Eastern Block, also comprising two basements, ground floor and five upper floors, will house the administration branch, Registrar chambers, meditation chamber, lawyers' chambers, cafeteria, archives and podium parking. These two blocks are yet to be tendered.
The project also envisages, in Phase-II, a police constabulary, judicial block, guest house, auditorium and residential quarters. The overall complex is planned to provide 1,600 car-parking spaces, including 265 spaces in Podium-1 and 115 spaces in Podium-2 of the main building.
The Chief Minister subsequently inspected the site for the proposed Mominabad Vehicle Underpass (VUP), intended to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate seamless movement along the National Highway.
The proposed four-lane RCC T-Beam Slab type underpass will have a 22.50-metre main carriageway, service roads with paved shoulders on both sides, a one-kilometre total main-carriageway approach length and drainage/utility corridors. The viaduct will have a vertical clearance of 5.5 metres.
The Chief Minister also reviewed associated traffic infrastructure proposals, including the underpass at Nowgam Railway Station and the Foot Over Bridge at Children Hospital, Bemina. The Nowgam underpass will have a 25-metre main carriageway, service roads on both sides and a 5.5-metre vertical clearance, besides a 270-metre railway approach road. The proposed FOB at Children Hospital, Bemina, will have a length of 48.5 metres and width of 3.19 metres, with steel fabrication and staircases on both sides. Lift provision has also been envisaged for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and women.
The combined sanctioned amount for these works is ?31.52 crore.
At Gindun Sports Complex, Rajbagh, the Chief Minister inspected the recently completed main swimming pool, a state-of-the-art aquatic facility aimed at promoting competitive swimming, diving and other aquatic sports in Jammu and Kashmir.
The project, which was initiated in 2014 and had remained languishing during 2019-20 due to paucity of funds, was subsequently revived. Completed in November 2025 and commissioned in July 2026, the facility has been developed at a cost of ?20.60 crore.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the Training-cum-Toddler/All-Weather Heated Pool facility and inspected the newly completed Gymnastic Hall at Gindun, Rajbagh. |
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