ibn sultan
Srinagar, March 31:Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday welcomed the government’s approval of the proposed flyover connecting Rajbagh to Sangarmal in Srinagar, calling it a long-awaited move that will help ease traffic congestion in the city.
In a post on social media platform X, Bukhari said the decision to approve the flyover was necessary and timely, adding that the project would significantly reduce traffic pressure in the city centre once completed.
At the same time, he criticised PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, accusing her of mishandling the project during her tenure in government. Bukhari alleged that the original plan for a motorable bridge was altered and converted into a footbridge despite expert recommendations, which he termed a poor decision.
He also criticised the relocation of the Batamaloo General Bus Stand to Parimpora, describing the move as “foolish” and damaging to the local economy. According to him, the shift caused financial losses to traders, transporters, and residents, and weakened Batamaloo’s status as a commercial hub.
Bukhari further pointed to the ban on stone mining in the Athwajan and Pantha Chowk areas, claiming it deprived hundreds of labourers of their livelihoods and added to economic hardship in the region.
He said these decisions reflected poor judgment and disregard for public welfare during the previous government’s tenure. Bukhari urged authorities to begin work on the Rajbagh–Sangarmal flyover without delay so that residents can finally get relief from chronic traffic congestion in Srinagar.
