Ganderbal, Sep 10: Road widening and allied construction work on the Pandach-Manigam stretch of the Phase 2A Ring Road project in Ganderbal is underway, with officials associated with the project expressing hope that the upgraded corridor will significantly ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity for local residents, commuters and tourists.
According to Sangeet Navgarh, Authority Engineer from Chaitanya Consultancy, the project, described as the Nagbal-Manigam stretch, has a total length of 12.115 kilometres and was started on May 19, 2026. The project has an estimated cost of around Rs 289 crore and is scheduled for completion by 2028.
Navgarh said certain court-related matters had initially affected the pace of work, particularly the demolition process. However, with funds now available for demolition, the process is nearing completion, allowing construction activities to progress on the available stretches.
“We will try to complete this project before 2028,” Navgarh said, adding that the construction teams have deployed machinery including excavators, JCBs, rollers, graders and tippers to accelerate the work.
He said the project is expected to bring considerable relief to people travelling through Ganderbal, particularly during periods of heavy traffic. The improved road infrastructure is also expected to benefit tourists and commercial transport operators travelling through the district.
Project Manager Syed Ehsan Ul Haq of SGI PPI Health Joint Venture Company said the work under his package extends from Pandach towards Wayil Manigam and covers nearly 12 kilometres. The project includes a major flyover of around 2.5 kilometres along with several culverts and other structures.
He said the project was awarded on May 19, 2026, with a two-year completion period. However, land acquisition remains one of the major challenges affecting the pace of construction.
“The district administration is cooperating with us,” he said, adding that further cooperation from affected residents would be crucial for timely execution of the project.
He said construction cannot begin on certain stretches until the land acquisition process is completed and structures falling within the project alignment are cleared. Meanwhile, the executing agency has started work on portions where land is available.
The project includes two important bypasses—Shahpora bypass and Nunnar bypass. Work has commenced on both stretches, while construction is also progressing on around a dozen culverts. A cross passage on the Nunnar bypass and a minor bridge near the end of the Shahpora bypass are among the structures where work has already begun.
He further said the agency was proceeding with all approved drawings and taking up work wherever the required land was available. He added that the major portion of the flyover passes through a market area, making early completion of land acquisition and demolition particularly important. The project cost under his package has been estimated at Rs 290.51 crore.
Highlighting the potential impact of the project, he said traffic movement through Ganderbal currently takes significantly longer during congestion, with commuters sometimes requiring around 1.5 to two hours to cross the affected stretch. Once the new road infrastructure is completed, he said, the journey could potentially be reduced to around 12 to 15 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
Syed Ehsan ul Haq also said the project was making efforts to employ local manpower. He said Kashmiri labourers and engineers constitute a significant portion of the workforce, while only a limited number of personnel have been brought from outside.
He stressed that skilled labour would be essential for successful completion of the project and said the company would continue giving preference to local workers wherever possible.
