Srinagar, Jul 5: Several areas in Budgam district have no direct access to the Srinagar Semi Ring Road despite the highway passing through central Kashmir, forcing commuters to take long detours once the project becomes operational.
Commuters from Budgam and Beerwah will have to travel more than 20 and 30 kilometres, respectively, to reach either the Narbal junction or Wathoora-Chadoora to access the highway for travel to Srinagar, North or South Kashmir
Those from Khansahib must travel 20 km to reach the Wathoora junction, and Doodhpathri, an emerging tourist destination, will have to travel over 30 kilometres to reach either junction.
Along the Beerwah-Budgam district road, the elevated Ring Road has come up without approach roads, service lanes or designated entry and exit points at several locations, particularly near Kawnar-Nasrullahpora.
Residents said the alignment cuts through the area without adequate connectivity for most parts of the district.
“This is the main district road connecting Budgam and Beerwah, but there is no cut or service road where it meets the elevated Ring Road,” environmental activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat said. “People will have to travel to Narbal or Chadoora to access it. This should be addressed before the project is completed.”
Residents said the missing connectivity would affect commuters, transporters, fruit growers, students and emergency services and raise safety concerns once the highway becomes operational.
“There is no direct connection between the Beerwah-Budgam district road and the Ring Road,” said Muhammad Hafiz of Beerwah. “People will have to travel extra kilometres to reach Narbal. It could also create safety issues once the project becomes operational.”
The Doodhpathri tourist resort requires a direct link through an entry and exit point at Ichkoot or Ichgam.
Without this link, residents and visitors will have to travel over 30 km to reach the highway alignment once it becomes operational.
Locals said improved connectivity could significantly reduce travel time.
Javaid Ahmad Bhat of Ichkoot said villagers had given land for the project but still lacked access planning.
“We gave land for the Ring Road, but there is no approach road or service road being provided,” he said. “An entry and exit point at Ichkoot will directly connect Doodhpathri, a scenic tourist destination, to the highway and ease travel for locals and visitors.”
Budgam MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, Beerwah MLA Shafi Ahmad Wani and Chadoora MLA Ali Muhammad Dar have jointly submitted a representation to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), seeking approach roads, service lanes and designated entry and exit points along the Beerwah-Budgam district road at Kawnar-Nasrullahpora, and an access point at Ichkoot for the Doodhpathri corridor.
After inspecting the project site at Kawnar last week, Wani said the approach design should be reviewed before completion.
“The Ring Road should improve connectivity, not become a barrier,” he said. “The approach road should be technically sound so it does not create problems when the district road is widened in future.”
A district administration official said the matter was under review. “One access point already exists at Narbal and another at Wathoora -Chadoora. We are examining the possibility of another along the Budgam-Beerwah Road,” the official said. “At Ichkoot, an irrigation siphon is a technical hurdle, but options are being explored.”
NHAI Project Director Akash Deep Singh said representations had been received.
“We have received the representations and will take up the matter with our headquarters,” he said. “The project is being executed as per the approved DPR.”
The 42.10-km Phase-I of the Srinagar Semi Ring Road from Galander in Pulwama to Narbal in Budgam and Sarai Dangerpora in Bandipora is nearing completion at an estimated cost of Rs 2920 crore and is likely to be opened by the end of this year.
The project’s Phase II (24.7 km), connecting Sarai Dangerpora to Wayul in Ganderbal, and Phase II-A (12.11 km), linking Pandach with Wayul, remain far from completion.
Phase III, which will connect Lasjan with Pandach and Hazratbal along with a 6-km airport link, is still at the DPR stage.
