Sopore, October 23: The Sopore bypass bridge in north Kashmir has been closed for repairs until October 31, disrupting traffic during the peak apple harvesting season and renewing concerns over the maintenance of the key link near the town’s busy fruit mandi.
The 216-metre bridge, inaugurated in 2015 by then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed after nearly 23 years of construction-related delays, was built to ease congestion in Sopore and improve connectivity towards Baramulla and Kupwara districts.
The latest closure began at 8 pm on October 22 following a request from the Officer Commanding of the General Reserve Engineer Force’s 56 RCC for repair work. The shutdown has forced commuters and transporters to use alternative routes, adding pressure to traffic movement across the town.
The timing has raised concerns among fruit growers, traders and transporters, as Sopore’s fruit mandi is a major trading centre and timely road connectivity is crucial during the apple season.
Cracks were reported on the bridge in 2017, with officials at the time attributing the damage to heavy snowfall. Subsequent maintenance concerns have periodically brought the structure back into focus.
According to a traffic advisory issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore S A Raina, vehicles travelling from Kupwara and Sopore towards Srinagar have been diverted through Model Town, Sopore Hospital, Iqbal Market, Ghanta Ghar, Shah Dargah, Degree College Crossing, Chankhan and Sangrama.
Vehicles travelling from Srinagar towards Sopore and Kupwara have been advised to take the route via Amargad, Chankhan Bridge, Degree College Crossing, Mandi Crossing and the bypass.
The administration has urged commuters to follow traffic police instructions, avoid unnecessary halts and cooperate with officials. Heavy traffic was reported at several locations on the first day of the closure.
The disruption comes at a busy time for the horticulture sector, which supports growers, truck operators, loading workers, packaging units and traders. Delays in transportation can complicate the movement of apples from orchards to markets across the country.
National Conference MLA from Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar said the administration had taken up the matter and expressed hope that steps to resolve it would provide relief to residents and transporters.
He said the bridge falls under the jurisdiction of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), locally known as BEACON, and that the Roads and Buildings Department was awaiting the necessary approval. He expressed hope that the issue would be resolved once the approval process was completed.
While the immediate focus remains on completing repairs within the stipulated period and managing traffic diversions, the closure has also brought renewed attention to the need for sustained maintenance of the bridge, which remains an important link for Sopore’s residents and horticulture trade.
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