Amira Kadal pedestrian bridge to boost trade, tourism: Div Com

Idrees Bukhtiyar
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19 Jan 2026

Srinagar, Jan 19: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Monday said that the renovation and makeover of the historic Amira Kadal bridge has been completed by Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL), and the structure has been readied as a dedicated pedestrian bridge. Speaking to the media after reviewing the construction work at the bridge, Garg said Amira Kadal is an old bridge, and its transformation into a pedestrian facility is a significant development for the city. He congratulated SSCL officials for completing the project. He said the pedestrian bridge will soon be dedicated to the public by the Lieutenant Governor. According to him, the opening of the bridge will benefit shopkeepers and industrialists in and around Lal Chowk and is also expected to emerge as a major attraction for tourists visiting Kashmir. “As we are seeing a good flow of tourists at Zero Bridge and Habba Kadal, we expect a similar tourist footfall at Amira Kadal in the coming time,” Garg said. The bridge is scheduled to be inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on January 20 (Tuesday). The Div Com further said that the Riverfront project has been extended up to the Amira Kadal bridge. He added that the expanded stretch will allow cyclists and joggers to use both banks of the river, providing around 4.5 kilometres of uninterrupted track. “It is a major project, and I am happy that it is nearing completion,” he said, while thanking the officials involved. Garg also informed that the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) established by SSCL has become fully functional. He said 40 employees from the Divisional Administration have been posted at the centre, and dedicated helpline services will be made operational by February 15. “If tourists, locals or others face any issues, they can call the ICCC helpline numbers, which will be available 24 hours. In the last over one month, around 250 calls have been efficiently handled by our team,” he said. On the issue of the Achan dumping site, the Divisional Commissioner said the project is being closely monitored by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). He said the government is working on waste recovery and disposal facilities at an accelerated pace, in line with directions from the Chief Minister and the court, to resolve the problem in a time-bound manner. Garg also said that 100 smart city buses are currently plying on various routes in the city and have received positive feedback from commuters. He said ridership numbers are encouraging, and routes are being reviewed to increase bus frequency on high-demand corridors. He further announced that 100 more smart city buses will soon be introduced in Kashmir. To improve operational efficiency, two new charging stations are also being planned - one near Souk Market in Batamaloo and another at Hazratbal. “At present, buses have to go to Pantha Chowk for charging, which affects route efficiency. The new charging stations will help provide better services to commuters,” he said. Later, SSCL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fazlul Haseeb, along with Chief Engineer Qayoom Kirmani, visited the site to review the progress of the work. The Divisional Commissioner also invited people to attend the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 at Bakshi Stadium. He said all preparations for the event have been completed, rehearsals for cultural programmes are underway, and illumination of buildings is in progress across the city.