Four laning of Boulevard to begin from March 10

After getting clearance from Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), work on the four-laning of Boulevard road along the Dal Lake is likely to be begin by March 10, officials informed.
Decks from resuming work on the four-laning of the road stretch along the lake have been cleared after LAWDA gave its No Objection Certificate to the Roads and Buildings Department.
“All the modalities have been fulfilled and now the work on the four-laning of the road will start from March 10,” said Chief Engineer, R&B Kashmir, Sheikh Abdul Hameed.
Sources informed Kashmir Post that Minister for Roads and Buildings, Naeem Akhtar also directed the officials to expedite work on this project during his review meeting.
Officials said that earlier the Roads and Buildings department has sought NOC from LAWDA for undertaking widening of road link from Nehru Park to Kral Sangri along Dal Lake here. “Funds have already been sanctioned for this road project,” the CE added.
The government has approved the project of four-laning the road from Nehru Park to Kral Sangri with an estimated cost of Rs 33 crore. The road would have separate cycle track which would cost additional Rs 10 crore.
With a view to ease traffic movement, the government has decided to widen road from UN Office Sonwar to Kral Sangri, however in the first phase stretch from Nehru Park to Kral Sangri would be widened.
The width of the road is to be increased by eight meters on the hill side, leaving the Dal side untouched.
The previous government had proposed to construct a cantilever on the Dal Lake to widen it on both sides, but after facing public outcry, the plan was shelved as environmentalists pointed out that constructing a cantilever would mean “encroachment” of the Dal.
“Four laning of the road has been undertaken under Central Road Fund,” said a senior R&B engineer.
He added that widening of road from Nehru Park to Kral Sangri was taken up first as it does not require much money for acquisition of land.
“As per our preliminary estimates, 12 shops and 6 houses are to be dismantled to pave way for widening the 5 km stretch,” he said, adding that 43 kanals of state land would be utilized for four laning of the stretch.
Further, the road would have a cycle track on European pattern. “It is for the first time that there would be a separate cycle track in JK and for that we have submitted a DPR of Rs 10 crore,” he said, adding that carving out a separate cycle track was the brainchild of former Chief Minister late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
The official added that widening of road from Dalgate to Nehru Park requires huge funds for acquisition as on the stretch many hotels, showrooms and shops are to be demolished for paving way for widening of the road.
Widening of the road, which at present is 22 feet wide, was announced by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on August 2, 2011. He had directed the R&B to start it on war-footing. But the work was not started.