8 years on, Khanabal parallel bridge still missing as traffic chaos deepens

Anantnag, May 11: Eight years after authorities floated tenders for a parallel bridge at Khanabal, residents of south Kashmir say worsening traffic congestion at the junction continues to disrupt daily movement across the region.

The existing bridge at Khanabal connects Anantnag town with Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Srinagar, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and the Khanabal-Pahalgam (KP) road.

Residents said the single bridge carries traffic far beyond its capacity, resulting in daily bottlenecks and traffic snarls, particularly during morning and evening peak hours.

“This stretch remains clogged throughout the day. “During office and school hours, traffic barely moves,” said Sameer Ahmad, a shopkeeper at Khanabal.

He said, “This single bridge is carrying traffic from several districts. “There should have been an alternate bridge years ago”.

Office-goers said they frequently face delays while travelling to workplaces in Anantnag, Srinagar and other districts due to heavy congestion at the junction.

“People leave early in the morning but still end up getting delayed because traffic remains stuck near the bridge for long periods,” said Riyaz Ahmad, an employee who commutes daily between Anantnag and Srinagar.

Commuters said vehicles often remain stranded on the bridge and adjoining roads for long durations because there is no alternate route available.

“Sometimes it takes more than half an hour to cross the bridge,” said MuzafarJeelani, a commuter.

Residents said hundreds of school buses use the route daily to ferry students to educational institutions located in the vicinities of town- Batengoo, Harnag and Wanpoh areas-while parents said children spend considerable time caught in traffic during school hours.

The road also serves as the main access route to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag and associated hospitals that receive patients from across south Kashmir.

Residents said congestion near the bridge frequently affects emergency movement.

“Patients, attendants and ambulances all face delays here. During peak hours, traffic comes to a near standstill,” Jeelani said.

Locals said the route is also used by tourists travelling towards Pahalgam, Aharbal, Verinag, Achabal, Chatapal, Kokernag, Daksum, Sinthan Top and Margan Top, besides traffic movement during the annual AmarnathYatra, adding further pressure on the junction.

Drivers and transporters said increasing traffic volume over the years has added pressure on the existing infrastructure.

“The number of vehicles has increased steadily, but the infrastructure has remained the same,” said Bashir Ahmad, a cab driver who ferries passengers between Anantnag and Srinagar.

Documents accessed by Greater Kashmir show the parallel bridge project was tendered vide NIT No. 26 of R&B Khanabal 2018-19/1674-84 dated June 19, 2018, issued by the Executive Engineer, R&B Division Khanabal.

It was proposed to reduce traffic pressure at Khanabal.

Officials said a few bridge pillars were raised after the project was taken up, but further work could not proceed due to issues relating to structures falling within the alignment of the proposed bridge.

Official records show that the office of the Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) Circle Anantnag/Kulgam, through communication No. 1665-68 dated June 10, 2021, forwarded assessment cases relating to structures “coming in the alignment of under construction 3×30 Mtr Span Bridge at KhanabalAnantnag (Under CRF).”

The communication stated that around 12 structures were falling within the proposed alignment.

The Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) and Collector Land Acquisition, PWD Anantnag, through communication No. 806-08/LA/PWD/ANG dated February 9, 2022, directed the Executive Engineer, R&B Division Khanabal, to conduct a joint inspection with officials of Tehsil Anantnag and submit the indent for acquisition of land falling under the alignment.

Further correspondence issued by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag vide No. 1239/LA/ACR/AMS dated September 12, 2022, addressed to the Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B) Kashmir, stated that requisition for land acquisition was required to be submitted under provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Residents said no progress has been made despite these communications.

“We filed RTI applications seeking details about the project, but there is still no clarity regarding its present status,” said Shahid Malik, one of the applicants associated with a representation submitted before the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Anantnag.

An RTI response issued through communication No. 2811/LA/ACR/AMS dated February 29, 2024, stated that procedural formalities relating to submission of indent and compliance with rules were under process.

Malik said litigation linked to the bridge alignment had already been disposed of.

The cases include C.O.S/0000678/2019, disposed of on August 13, 2022, and Miscellaneous Civil Cases No. 0000319/2019 and 0000320/2019, both disposed of on March 13, 2020.

Executive Engineer, Roads and Buildings (R&B), Anantnag, Waseem Ahmad, said the project remained stalled due to court proceedings and issues relating to compensation.

“We even approached the aggrieved parties for settlement, but they did not agree to the evaluated compensation,” he said. “We have now taken up the matter with the district administration and are hopeful that an amicable solution will be reached.”