One of the primary fallacies in terminating the flyover at Rambagh is the underestimation of the traffic load on the stretches beyond, particularly at Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk. Srinagar’s urban landscape has evolved rapidly, with uptown areas like Natipora, Chanapora, and Bagat Barzulla witnessing significant population growth and commercial development. These areas serve as critical connectors to residential neighborhoods, educational institutions, and routes toward the airport and other parts of the city. The Rambagh-Natipora stretch, in particular, is a notorious bottleneck, where commuters often spend 20 minutes to cover a distance that should take less than a minute under ideal conditions. The assumption that the flyover’s benefits would adequately decongest the roads up to Rambagh without addressing the downstream flow was shortsighted. Traffic from the flyover funnels directly into the already congested Natipora Junction, creating a choke point that negates much of the time saved on the elevated corridor. Extending the flyover to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk could have provided a seamless elevated route, bypassing these critical intersections and distributing traffic more evenly across the network.
The Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover in Srinagar, a significant infrastructure project aimed at alleviating traffic congestion, was a critical step toward improving urban mobility in the city. Completed in phases and fully operational by 2019, the 2.4-kilometer flyover with six access ramps at Jehangir Chowk, Gogji Bagh, Alochi Bagh, Rambagh, Natipora, and Barzulla has significantly reduced travel time between Jehangir Chowk and Rambagh from approximately 45 minutes to about 2.5 minutes. However, despite its success, the decision to terminate the flyover at Rambagh, without extending it further to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk, has proven to be a critical oversight. This limitation has exacerbated the ongoing traffic crisis on these stretches, particularly at Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk, where bottlenecks and congestion remain persistent. This essay explores the fallacies of this approach, analyzing the shortcomings of the current infrastructure design, the missed opportunities for comprehensive traffic management, and the broader implications for urban planning in Srinagar. By critically examining the decision-making process, the environmental and social impacts, and the potential benefits of extending the flyover, this analysis underscores the need for a more holistic approach to addressing Srinagar’s traffic woes.
Underestimating the Traffic Load Beyond Rambagh
One of the primary fallacies in terminating the flyover at Rambagh is the underestimation of the traffic load on the stretches beyond, particularly at Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk. Srinagar’s urban landscape has evolved rapidly, with uptown areas like Natipora, Chanapora, and Bagat Barzulla witnessing significant population growth and commercial development. These areas serve as critical connectors to residential neighborhoods, educational institutions, and routes toward the airport and other parts of the city. The Rambagh-Natipora stretch, in particular, is a notorious bottleneck, where commuters often spend 20 minutes to cover a distance that should take less than a minute under ideal conditions. The assumption that the flyover’s benefits would adequately decongest the roads up to Rambagh without addressing the downstream flow was shortsighted. Traffic from the flyover funnels directly into the already congested Natipora Junction, creating a choke point that negates much of the time saved on the elevated corridor. Extending the flyover to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk could have provided a seamless elevated route, bypassing these critical intersections and distributing traffic more evenly across the network.
Ignoring the Interconnected Nature of Traffic Flow
Traffic systems are inherently interconnected, and addressing congestion at one point without considering downstream effects is a flawed approach. The Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover was designed to decongest the city center and improve access to uptown areas. However, by stopping at Rambagh, the project fails to account for the ripple effects of traffic flow toward Natipora and Bagat Chowk. These junctions are critical nodes where traffic from multiple directions converges, including vehicles heading toward Chanapora, Budgam, Hyderpora, and the airport. The lack of an extended elevated corridor forces vehicles to descend from the flyover into surface-level traffic, where poorly synchronized signals, roadside parking, and street vendors exacerbate delays. A comprehensive traffic study, as conducted in other cities like Hyderabad for their IT corridor flyovers, could have highlighted the need for an extended flyover to maintain consistent traffic flow. The failure to integrate Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk into the flyover’s design reflects a piecemeal approach to urban planning, prioritizing short-term gains over long-term sustainability.
Overreliance on Flyovers as a Singular Solution
Another fallacy lies in the overreliance on flyovers as a catch-all solution to traffic congestion, without complementary measures to address surface-level traffic management. While the Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover has undoubtedly reduced travel times on its stretch, the absence of supporting infrastructure—such as synchronized traffic signals, dedicated lanes for public transport, and enforcement of parking regulations—has limited its overall impact. At Natipora and Bagat Chowk, the lack of grade separators or underpasses compounds the problem, as vehicles from all directions compete for limited road space. Experts in urban planning, as noted in Hyderabad’s traffic management discussions, argue that flyovers alone cannot solve congestion without integrated strategies like improved public transportation, traffic signal optimization, and pedestrian-friendly designs. Extending the flyover to these junctions could have been paired with such measures to create a more robust traffic management system, rather than relying solely on an elevated corridor that stops short of critical choke points.
Neglecting Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts
The decision to limit the flyover’s scope also overlooks the socioeconomic and environmental consequences of persistent congestion at Natipora and Bagat Chowk. Traffic jams in these areas lead to significant fuel wastage, increased air pollution, and productivity losses for commuters, particularly students and professionals. The environmental impact is particularly concerning in Srinagar, where air quality is already strained due to geographical constraints and seasonal factors. Extending the flyover could have reduced idling times and emissions by allowing smoother traffic flow. Additionally, the socioeconomic toll of congestion—such as delayed access to hospitals, schools, and workplaces—disproportionately affects residents of uptown areas. The initial environmental examination for the flyover project, conducted in 2017, focused primarily on the Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh stretch, with little consideration for the downstream impacts of terminating the project at Rambagh. A more comprehensive assessment could have justified the extension as a means to mitigate these broader impacts.
Dystopic Proposals of Master Plan -2035
Master Plan Srinagar city which was revised in 2018 has been full of short-sighted approaches and proposals. The planners have been unable to realize the implications and utility of the mixed land use. It has envisaged both sides of the Airport road for mixed land uses without bearing in mind its insinuations on urban mobility enroute to Airport. By proposing mixed land use, activities which have come up are generating heavy traffic and very frequently choke this vital artery. Terminating the flyover has further added to the traffic woes characterized by sever type of gridlock depicts ineffectiveness of the master plan, adopted traffic solutions and Rambagh flyover shortcomings. Natipora road from Rambagh upto old Channapora and Natipora Asthan are regularly observing traffic snarls, jams, conflicts,and accidents. Short sighted traffic planning in Srinagar has turned this strip into virtual traffic monster, giving hair tearing experience to the commuters. Recently government in it endeavor to lessen the pressure of traffic along the strip has initiated development of the Doodh Ganga bund road, starting ahead of Natipora Junction and enters city traffic through a lane meant for traffic coming from Lal Chowk and Channapora now is used for traffic plying on both directions generating an unresolving traffic conflict under Rambagh flyover intersection. No doubt temporarily bund road has helped to siphon of some traffic from Rambagh –Natipora--Channapora Road but such a traffic solution has no parallel in the traffic management. Beside this ,it has capricious widths, poor geometry, incongruous traffic mergers /convergence, undesired and poor designed slope near Barazulla bridge, and obstruction in the center which make this road fully unrealistic for diversion of traffic. By the very nature of Road, this short term solution adds another cap of mismanagement within the struggle of urban administration to explore solutions for the city’s mobility system.
Missed Opportunity for Future-Proofing
Urban infrastructure projects must anticipate future growth to remain effective. Srinagar’s population and vehicle density are projected to increase, particularly in uptown areas like Natipora and Bagat Chowk, which are becoming commercial and residential hubs. The decision to end the flyover at Rambagh fails to future-proof the city’s traffic infrastructure, as it does not account for the inevitable rise in traffic volume. Extending the flyover to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk would have provided a scalable solution, capable of accommodating future demand. Moreover, the cost of retrofitting or building additional infrastructure in the future will likely be higher than incorporating these extensions during the original project. The delays and cost overruns experienced during the flyover’s construction, exacerbated by floods in 2014 and unrest in 2016, highlight the challenges of executing large-scale projects in Srinagar. Proactively extending the flyover could have avoided the need for disruptive future interventions.
Potential Benefits of Extending the Flyover
Extending the flyover beyond Rambagh to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk would yield multiple benefits. First, it would eliminate key bottlenecks, allowing commuters to bypass surface-level congestion and maintain the time savings achieved on the existing flyover. Second, it would enhance connectivity to critical areas like the airport, Chanapora, and Budgam, improving accessibility for residents and visitors. Third, it would reduce environmental and socioeconomic costs by minimizing fuel consumption, emissions, and productivity losses. Finally, it would align with best practices in urban planning, as demonstrated in cities like Chennai and Hyderabad, where multi-level flyovers and grade separators have been used to address complex traffic challenges. While the initial cost of extension would be significant, the long-term benefits—both economic and social—would likely outweigh the investment.
Way Out
The Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover represents a commendable effort to address Srinagar’s traffic challenges, but its termination at Rambagh reflects a series of misjudgments that have perpetuated congestion at Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk. By underestimating traffic loads, ignoring interconnected traffic flows, over-relying on flyovers, neglecting socioeconomic and environmental impacts, and failing to future-proof the infrastructure, the project falls short of its potential to transform urban mobility. Extending the flyover to cross these critical junctions would have provided a more comprehensive solution, aligning with global best practices and addressing the evolving needs of Srinagar’s residents. As the city continues to grow, policymakers must adopt a more integrated, comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to urban planning, ensuring that infrastructure projects like the flyover deliver sustainable, long-term benefits for all.
Email:------------------- hamwani24@gmail.com
One of the primary fallacies in terminating the flyover at Rambagh is the underestimation of the traffic load on the stretches beyond, particularly at Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk. Srinagar’s urban landscape has evolved rapidly, with uptown areas like Natipora, Chanapora, and Bagat Barzulla witnessing significant population growth and commercial development. These areas serve as critical connectors to residential neighborhoods, educational institutions, and routes toward the airport and other parts of the city. The Rambagh-Natipora stretch, in particular, is a notorious bottleneck, where commuters often spend 20 minutes to cover a distance that should take less than a minute under ideal conditions. The assumption that the flyover’s benefits would adequately decongest the roads up to Rambagh without addressing the downstream flow was shortsighted. Traffic from the flyover funnels directly into the already congested Natipora Junction, creating a choke point that negates much of the time saved on the elevated corridor. Extending the flyover to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk could have provided a seamless elevated route, bypassing these critical intersections and distributing traffic more evenly across the network.
The Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover in Srinagar, a significant infrastructure project aimed at alleviating traffic congestion, was a critical step toward improving urban mobility in the city. Completed in phases and fully operational by 2019, the 2.4-kilometer flyover with six access ramps at Jehangir Chowk, Gogji Bagh, Alochi Bagh, Rambagh, Natipora, and Barzulla has significantly reduced travel time between Jehangir Chowk and Rambagh from approximately 45 minutes to about 2.5 minutes. However, despite its success, the decision to terminate the flyover at Rambagh, without extending it further to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk, has proven to be a critical oversight. This limitation has exacerbated the ongoing traffic crisis on these stretches, particularly at Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk, where bottlenecks and congestion remain persistent. This essay explores the fallacies of this approach, analyzing the shortcomings of the current infrastructure design, the missed opportunities for comprehensive traffic management, and the broader implications for urban planning in Srinagar. By critically examining the decision-making process, the environmental and social impacts, and the potential benefits of extending the flyover, this analysis underscores the need for a more holistic approach to addressing Srinagar’s traffic woes.
Underestimating the Traffic Load Beyond Rambagh
One of the primary fallacies in terminating the flyover at Rambagh is the underestimation of the traffic load on the stretches beyond, particularly at Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk. Srinagar’s urban landscape has evolved rapidly, with uptown areas like Natipora, Chanapora, and Bagat Barzulla witnessing significant population growth and commercial development. These areas serve as critical connectors to residential neighborhoods, educational institutions, and routes toward the airport and other parts of the city. The Rambagh-Natipora stretch, in particular, is a notorious bottleneck, where commuters often spend 20 minutes to cover a distance that should take less than a minute under ideal conditions. The assumption that the flyover’s benefits would adequately decongest the roads up to Rambagh without addressing the downstream flow was shortsighted. Traffic from the flyover funnels directly into the already congested Natipora Junction, creating a choke point that negates much of the time saved on the elevated corridor. Extending the flyover to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk could have provided a seamless elevated route, bypassing these critical intersections and distributing traffic more evenly across the network.
Ignoring the Interconnected Nature of Traffic Flow
Traffic systems are inherently interconnected, and addressing congestion at one point without considering downstream effects is a flawed approach. The Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover was designed to decongest the city center and improve access to uptown areas. However, by stopping at Rambagh, the project fails to account for the ripple effects of traffic flow toward Natipora and Bagat Chowk. These junctions are critical nodes where traffic from multiple directions converges, including vehicles heading toward Chanapora, Budgam, Hyderpora, and the airport. The lack of an extended elevated corridor forces vehicles to descend from the flyover into surface-level traffic, where poorly synchronized signals, roadside parking, and street vendors exacerbate delays. A comprehensive traffic study, as conducted in other cities like Hyderabad for their IT corridor flyovers, could have highlighted the need for an extended flyover to maintain consistent traffic flow. The failure to integrate Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk into the flyover’s design reflects a piecemeal approach to urban planning, prioritizing short-term gains over long-term sustainability.
Overreliance on Flyovers as a Singular Solution
Another fallacy lies in the overreliance on flyovers as a catch-all solution to traffic congestion, without complementary measures to address surface-level traffic management. While the Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover has undoubtedly reduced travel times on its stretch, the absence of supporting infrastructure—such as synchronized traffic signals, dedicated lanes for public transport, and enforcement of parking regulations—has limited its overall impact. At Natipora and Bagat Chowk, the lack of grade separators or underpasses compounds the problem, as vehicles from all directions compete for limited road space. Experts in urban planning, as noted in Hyderabad’s traffic management discussions, argue that flyovers alone cannot solve congestion without integrated strategies like improved public transportation, traffic signal optimization, and pedestrian-friendly designs. Extending the flyover to these junctions could have been paired with such measures to create a more robust traffic management system, rather than relying solely on an elevated corridor that stops short of critical choke points.
Neglecting Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts
The decision to limit the flyover’s scope also overlooks the socioeconomic and environmental consequences of persistent congestion at Natipora and Bagat Chowk. Traffic jams in these areas lead to significant fuel wastage, increased air pollution, and productivity losses for commuters, particularly students and professionals. The environmental impact is particularly concerning in Srinagar, where air quality is already strained due to geographical constraints and seasonal factors. Extending the flyover could have reduced idling times and emissions by allowing smoother traffic flow. Additionally, the socioeconomic toll of congestion—such as delayed access to hospitals, schools, and workplaces—disproportionately affects residents of uptown areas. The initial environmental examination for the flyover project, conducted in 2017, focused primarily on the Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh stretch, with little consideration for the downstream impacts of terminating the project at Rambagh. A more comprehensive assessment could have justified the extension as a means to mitigate these broader impacts.
Dystopic Proposals of Master Plan -2035
Master Plan Srinagar city which was revised in 2018 has been full of short-sighted approaches and proposals. The planners have been unable to realize the implications and utility of the mixed land use. It has envisaged both sides of the Airport road for mixed land uses without bearing in mind its insinuations on urban mobility enroute to Airport. By proposing mixed land use, activities which have come up are generating heavy traffic and very frequently choke this vital artery. Terminating the flyover has further added to the traffic woes characterized by sever type of gridlock depicts ineffectiveness of the master plan, adopted traffic solutions and Rambagh flyover shortcomings. Natipora road from Rambagh upto old Channapora and Natipora Asthan are regularly observing traffic snarls, jams, conflicts,and accidents. Short sighted traffic planning in Srinagar has turned this strip into virtual traffic monster, giving hair tearing experience to the commuters. Recently government in it endeavor to lessen the pressure of traffic along the strip has initiated development of the Doodh Ganga bund road, starting ahead of Natipora Junction and enters city traffic through a lane meant for traffic coming from Lal Chowk and Channapora now is used for traffic plying on both directions generating an unresolving traffic conflict under Rambagh flyover intersection. No doubt temporarily bund road has helped to siphon of some traffic from Rambagh –Natipora--Channapora Road but such a traffic solution has no parallel in the traffic management. Beside this ,it has capricious widths, poor geometry, incongruous traffic mergers /convergence, undesired and poor designed slope near Barazulla bridge, and obstruction in the center which make this road fully unrealistic for diversion of traffic. By the very nature of Road, this short term solution adds another cap of mismanagement within the struggle of urban administration to explore solutions for the city’s mobility system.
Missed Opportunity for Future-Proofing
Urban infrastructure projects must anticipate future growth to remain effective. Srinagar’s population and vehicle density are projected to increase, particularly in uptown areas like Natipora and Bagat Chowk, which are becoming commercial and residential hubs. The decision to end the flyover at Rambagh fails to future-proof the city’s traffic infrastructure, as it does not account for the inevitable rise in traffic volume. Extending the flyover to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk would have provided a scalable solution, capable of accommodating future demand. Moreover, the cost of retrofitting or building additional infrastructure in the future will likely be higher than incorporating these extensions during the original project. The delays and cost overruns experienced during the flyover’s construction, exacerbated by floods in 2014 and unrest in 2016, highlight the challenges of executing large-scale projects in Srinagar. Proactively extending the flyover could have avoided the need for disruptive future interventions.
Potential Benefits of Extending the Flyover
Extending the flyover beyond Rambagh to cross Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk would yield multiple benefits. First, it would eliminate key bottlenecks, allowing commuters to bypass surface-level congestion and maintain the time savings achieved on the existing flyover. Second, it would enhance connectivity to critical areas like the airport, Chanapora, and Budgam, improving accessibility for residents and visitors. Third, it would reduce environmental and socioeconomic costs by minimizing fuel consumption, emissions, and productivity losses. Finally, it would align with best practices in urban planning, as demonstrated in cities like Chennai and Hyderabad, where multi-level flyovers and grade separators have been used to address complex traffic challenges. While the initial cost of extension would be significant, the long-term benefits—both economic and social—would likely outweigh the investment.
Way Out
The Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover represents a commendable effort to address Srinagar’s traffic challenges, but its termination at Rambagh reflects a series of misjudgments that have perpetuated congestion at Natipora Junction and Bagat Chowk. By underestimating traffic loads, ignoring interconnected traffic flows, over-relying on flyovers, neglecting socioeconomic and environmental impacts, and failing to future-proof the infrastructure, the project falls short of its potential to transform urban mobility. Extending the flyover to cross these critical junctions would have provided a more comprehensive solution, aligning with global best practices and addressing the evolving needs of Srinagar’s residents. As the city continues to grow, policymakers must adopt a more integrated, comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to urban planning, ensuring that infrastructure projects like the flyover deliver sustainable, long-term benefits for all.
Email:------------------- hamwani24@gmail.com
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