Public Using Nowgam Flyover Since August, But Official Completion Still Withheld, RTI Reply Confirms
Public Using Nowgam Flyover Since August, But Official Completion Still Withheld, RTI Reply Confirms
Srinagar, Sep 10, KNT: An RTI inquiry has revealed key details regarding the construction of the Nowgam Flyover in Srinagar, highlighting delays in certification and raising questions about accountability. The information was provided by the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Project Division Ist Srinagar in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
According to the official reply, the construction contract for the flyover was awarded to M/S Madhucon Pvt Ltd (Mirza Infra Pvt Ltd), while Space Engineers Consortium Pvt Ltd was responsible for design and supervision. The project commenced in August 2022 with a sanctioned cost of Rs 36.90 crore, of which Rs 35.63 crore has already been spent.
The flyover, however, has not yet been awarded a formal completion certificate despite being thrown open for public use on 5 August 2024. Officials confirmed that no final safety or fitness certification has been issued so far. The RTI also revealed that no complaints of cracks, damages, or quality concerns have been formally received by the department since its opening.
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In terms of construction material, the project as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust used Ambuja cement and Sail steel, with 43-grade cement applied in summers and 53-grade in winters, along with S550D asphalt. The department maintained that the project is under EPC mode, meaning that liability for any structural damage in the future will rest with the contractor.
A team of engineers, including quality heads and field engineers, were deployed for inspections and testing during the construction phase. Copies of structural audit reports and third-party inspections were also conducted, though the specific details of these reports were not enclosed in the RTI reply.
The accountability section named several officials who supervised the work across different timelines, including executive engineers, assistant engineers, and junior engineers. The department also clarified that penalty clauses apply if substandard materials are used, but no penalties have been imposed to date.
The RTI application, filed by Mudassir Ahmad Bhat of Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, reflected growing public apprehension about whether substandard material had been used in the flyover’s construction. Officials, however, reiterated that the project was executed as per prescribed standards, though the absence of final certification continues to leave doubts unresolved. [KNT]
