Click to enlarge.
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India
recently completed its first large-scale
rigid concrete pavement upgrade project!
Srinagar, known as ‘Sirinagar in Kashmiri’, is the largest city and the summer capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River—Indus, Dal, and Anchar lakes tributary—in the Kashmir Valley. Kashmir has witnessed the harshest weather condition in over the last three decades! This project on Rs 9.16 crore “Rigid Concrete Pavement” of Civil –Secretariat to Rambagh Chowk road began in August 2020 and is headed by Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&KERA) and Jhelum & Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP), backed by World Bank.
This is the first time that ‘Concrete Rigid Pavement Technology’ is being used at a large scale for up-gradation of roads in Jammu and Kashmir. The rigid concrete pavement technology is being used as a long-term protection against the recurrent damages caused due to the frequent water logging during the torrential rains and to make the vital road stretch leading up to to the Srinagar International Airport more durable and flood resilient.
Work began in August 2020 and had an expected timeline of 12 months! But, after only 6 months for completion, the work has received an overwhelming response from the the people at large—citizens, commuters, and especially the business community, have praised the swift completion of the road project—6 months instead of the original timeline of 12 months! They also praised the fact that it survived the adverse weather conditions!
Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Chief Executive Officer-J&KERA/JTFRP and Javed Iqbal Tara, Director-Kashmir JKERA each expressed that objective is to make the flood-vulnerable 1.9-kms-long road portions of the Indira Gandhi road resilient to floods by using the rigid concrete pavement technology instead of the conventional flexible pavement which is more susceptible to damages during water logging. Concrete pavement on this road project is long-term protection against the recurrent damages caused due to the frequent water logging during the torrential rains and to make the vital road stretch leading up to to the Srinagar International Airport more durable and flood resilient. The road portion will be strengthened with laying 3 layers comprising of GSB (Granular sub Base), DLC (Dry Lean Concrete) and the final layer of PQC (Pavement Quality Concrete). (See ISCP’s August 2020 article link below for more details).
Tara said that the project will directly benefit thousands of people living on both the sides of the road as it connects Srinagar to Sheikh Ul Alam international Airport, having moderate intensity of commercial vehicles. Rambagh to Civil Secretariat is a highly commercial area with over a dozen settlements on both sides of the road. The subproject road starts from the Rambagh near Barzulla Bridge and terminates at Civil Secretariat near Jehangir Chowk.
Dr. Shah said, “It is really good to see certain projects doing extremely well in Kashmir [while] helping the general public at large. Rigid Pavement has helped us to provide better services during harsh weather conditions, and especially thank you to J&KERA, JTFRP. [I appreciate the] officials and technical team for addressing people’s demands and providing quality projects.”
Showkat Ahmad, President-Traders Association, Rambagh, expressed gratitude to the team of engineers for completing the project [early] and also providing relief to the general public. He said, “We must express our gratitude to the team of engineers and other officials at J&KERA, JTFRP for their dedication in completing the project which has not only eased our sufferings but it has proved to be a great relief for managing traffic snarls.”
Mehraj Ahmat Khan, President-Natipora Traders Association, another prominent trade union leader, hailed the government for all their efforts in completing the project and hoped more such unique projects are launched to ease out the inconveniences meted out by the locals and citizens in Srinagar.
In August, Dr. Shah also mentioned and inspected the progress of additional “upgradation to Rigid Concrete Pavement road projects” in Kashmir:
• 1.49 km Peerbagh to Humhama Peerbagh road portion of the Indira Gandhi Road, Srinagar
• Eastern foreshore road around the Brari-Nambal body of water in downtown Srinagar
• Kadlabal to Lasjan
• Pampore to Pulwama Road
• Hamray to Sultanpora Nowgam to Sumbal bridge
• Shadipora to Khanpeeth Sumbal road
• Hajin Ajas road via Saidanara
• Rambagh to Civil Secretariat Road
• Parimpora to Soibugh Road
• Sangam to Khudwani Road
• Bijbehara to Karihama National Highway via Katriteng in Kashmir Division
Iftikhar Ahmad Hakim, Director-Planning and Coordination (P&C)-JTFRP, said that this was the first time that Concrete Rigid Pavement Technology was being used at a large scale for up-gradation of roads in J&K; technology was being used as long-term protection against the recurrent damages caused due to the frequent water logging during the torrential rains; and to make the vital road… to Srinagar airport more durable and flood resilient.
For the ISCP August 29, 2020 article on this project, as well as pre-construction details and interviews, titled “INDIA: J&K ERA: “Rigid Concrete Pavement” used for FIRST TIME EVER in Jammu & Kashmir!“, please go to: www.concretepavements.org/2020/08/29/india-jk-era-rigid-concrete-pavement-used-for-first-time-ever-in-jammu-kashmir/
For the Kashmir Observer Online News article titled “City’s ‘Rigid Concrete Pavement’ Survives Harsh Weather Conditions”, please go to: https://kashmirobserver.net/2021/02/06/citys-rigid-concrete-pavement-survives-harsh-weather-conditions/
For the Bhaskar Live Online News article titled “J&KERA Starts work on Rs 9.67 crore “Rigid Concrete Pavement” of Civil secretariat –Rambagh road”, please go to: www.bhaskarlive.in/jkera-starts-work-on-rs-9-67-crore-rigid-concrete-pavement-of-civil-secretariat-rambagh-road/
For the ISCP Oct 16, 2020 article titled “Introducing … Rigid Concrete Pavements for Upgrade on Vital Srinagar Roads, Jammu-Kashmir, India”, please go to: www.concretepavements.org/2020/10/16/introducing-rigid-concrete-pavements-for-upgrade-for-vital-srinagar-roads-jammu-kashmir-india/
Home photo: Amy M. Dean design and map “Maps of India”: www.mapsofindia.com/maps/jammuandkashmir/jammuandkashmirlocation.htm