Srinagar, Sep 21 : The Jammu and Kashmir government has admitted that a comprehensive decongestion plan for Sopore town and its vital Fruit Mandi, formulated on the recommendations of National Conference MLA Irshad Rasool Kar, is yet to be approved under any scheme.
In a written reply to a starred question raised by MLA Kar during the autumn session of the Assembly, the Public Works (R&B) Department stated that various projects were formulated to decongest Sopore town, but “the projects have not yet been approved under any plan/scheme.”
The reply, signed by the Minister Incharge and Deputy Director (Planning) of the PW(R&B) Department, said the proposals were drawn up to ensure hassle-free traffic movement on key routes, including Chankhan-Sofi Mohammad Akbar Road, Kaloo Market-Arampora towards Bandipora road, Khankah-Sofi Mohammad Akbar Road, Tulbal to Seer road via Police Line/River Jhelum Bund, and Ashpeer-Mazbugh road.
According to the reply, the tentative cost of the proposed road upgradation and widening projects stands at Rs 35,342.40 lakh (over Rs 353 crore).
The largest allocation—Rs 24,952.45 lakh—is proposed for the upgradation and widening of the Sopore-Mazbugh-Ladoora road, aimed at decongesting the Sopore Fruit Mandi and the town area, a critical hub for Kashmir’s apple trade.
Other proposed components include upgradation of Sofi Akbar Chankhan road at Rs 1,012.11 lakh, upgradation of Sopore-Bandipora road (Km 1st to 8th) at Rs 2,971.14 lakh, and development/strengthening of Mazbugh Ashpeer road at Rs 3,405.70 lakh.
The admission is significant as Sopore, a major commercial town in North Kashmir, has long suffered from acute traffic congestion, particularly during the peak fruit harvesting and transportation season.
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