Srinagar: Commuters in Srinagar finally have reason to smile as the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday inaugurated the much-awaited Sanatnagar flyover, bringing immediate respite from the crippling traffic jams that have long tormented the summer capital.
The 2.5-km elevated corridor, constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at a cost of over ₹250 crore, was opened to traffic following urgent directions from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary. A senior Roads and Buildings Department official said the decision came after repeated public complaints about daily hardships caused by congestion on the vital Srinagar Airport Road. The structure is fully ready for vehicular movement, with only minor finishing works remaining, which will continue without disrupting traffic flow.
Designed to decongest the busy Hyderpora-Rambagh stretch and streamline movement towards the airport and city centre, the flyover has been hailed as a game-changer, especially during peak tourist seasons when Srinagar often grinds to a halt under the weight of vehicles. Local shopkeepers and cab drivers gathered at the site expressed visible relief. “Half the day used to be wasted stuck at signals. Now we can finally breathe,” said an auto-rickshaw driver.
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Speaking at the inauguration, Jammu and Kashmir’s Transport Minister emphasised that smoother roads will attract more tourists, boost business, and accelerate economic growth across the Union Territory. The project is part of the Centre’s ambitious “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu-Kashmir” vision.
The new flyover is only the latest milestone in an unprecedented infrastructure surge sweeping Jammu and Kashmir over the past 18–24 months. More than ₹10,600 crore has been sanctioned for 19 mega road projects in 2024–25 alone, while over 41,000 kilometres of new and upgraded roads along with 410 bridges have been completed this year. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) is being progressively converted into a four-lane corridor, with several sections already operational, slashing travel time between the two cities to around four hours.
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Work is also racing ahead on a 5-km elevated corridor from Bhagwatinagar to Muthi on the Jammu-Akhnoor road, slated for completion by March 2025. Across the Union Territory, 21 tunnels, 39 flyovers, 26 bypasses, and two ring roads are currently under construction. High-profile tunnel projects such as Zojila and Z-Morh will soon provide all-weather access to Ladakh, reducing travel time to just 15 minutes, while the ₹5,000-crore Sinthan Pass and Chattergala tunnels, along with strategically important smaller ones like Sadhna Top and Peer Ki Gali, are progressing at full speed.
The railway transformation is equally dramatic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link in June 2025, putting the iconic Chenab Bridge – the world’s highest rail bridge at 359 metres – into service. Vande Bharat trains between Katra and Srinagar are expected to start soon, and the newly created Jammu Railway Division, operational since January 2025, now oversees 742 kilometres of network. The Srinagar Metrolite project is moving from blueprint to reality, smaller airports are being upgraded under the UDAN scheme, and several ropeway projects are in the pipeline.
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Union minister for road transport and highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari’s bold declaration that “by the end of 2025, roads in Jammu and Kashmir will match those in America” continues to echo across the Valley as the driving force behind this rapid transformation.
Harsh winters, treacherous terrain, and geological challenges still cause occasional delays, but for the first time in decades, residents are witnessing concrete evidence of change. For Srinagar’s long-suffering commuters, the new Sanatnagar flyover is more than just another infrastructure project – it is the first deep breath after years of choking in endless traffic.
