Jammu, Feb 12: Legislator Irshad Rasool Kar on Thursday raised serious concerns over worsening traffic congestion in Sopore, describing the north Kashmir town as an “economic artery under strain” due to an overwhelming load of commercial and private vehicles.
Speaking during the demand and grants discussion for the Roads and Buildings Department in the Legislative Assembly, Kar said Sopore witnesses an influx of nearly 700 to 800 trucks daily during the peak horticulture season, in addition to around 1,000 private vehicles entering the town from outside areas. He said the volume of traffic has pushed Sopore’s internal road network beyond its carrying capacity.
The MLA said the town hosts major educational institutions, hospitals and a dense local traffic flow, making decongestion an urgent necessity. He informed the House that he had already taken up the matter with the Chief Minister during a recent review meeting, following which directions were issued to concerned departments.
Kar proposed a multi-crore infrastructure plan to address the issue, including widening of key roads, construction of new link roads, excavation and upgrading of select bridges, expansion of Lodora Road and strengthening of the Sopore Bypass. He also pitched dedicated corridors for slow-moving vehicles to ease pressure on the town’s core areas.
He further proposed linking National Highway-1A near Sangrama with NH-701 at Lodora, extending connectivity through Bandipora, Watlab and onward to the Bandipora–Sumbal–Gurez road. He said such connectivity would not only decongest Sopore but also open a direct tourism corridor from Uri to Gurez, support defence logistics and revive eco-tourism in north Kashmir.
Describing Sopore as a major commercial hub, Kar said the town houses nearly 7,500 shops and functions as the economic lifeline for areas stretching from Srinagar to Karnah, Tangdar and Gurez, particularly for horticulture and trade.
The legislator also flagged the long-pending industrial estate at Tulibal, which remains stalled due to litigation, and urged the government to either allot alternate land to affected unit holders or establish a new mega industrial hub in north Kashmir. He said unemployment could not be addressed unless the government followed through on its industrialisation commitments.
Kar expressed hope that the administration would take concrete steps to address Sopore’s infrastructure stress and economic demands without further delay.
Comments are closed.