The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set the end of December as its internal target for completing Phase-I of the 46 km Kashmir ring road. The target was communicated during an inspection of the Galandar-Narbal stretch in Jammu and Kashmir by Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg and officials from NHAI, district administrations and engineering departments.

The corridor runs from Galandar in Pulwama district to Narbal and is expected to provide a direct road link between south and north Kashmir. Once operational, Phase-I will connect Pulwama with Narbal and support traffic movement towards Gulmarg, Baramulla, Bandipora and Sonamarg.

Project authorities informed the administration that substantial construction has been completed on the stretch. Works finished so far include 143 culverts, 23 minor bridges, three major bridges, 18 light vehicular underpasses, two flyover-cum-interchanges, six overpasses, 12 syphons and 107 HPCs.

The administration said there were no outstanding impediments related to land acquisition or utilities on the stretch. Transmission towers had previously obstructed construction, but compensation has now been disbursed, allowing work to proceed without that constraint.

The divisional commissioner stressed the need for coordinated planning among departments involved in the project to ensure smooth execution. Local representatives and legislators have repeatedly urged the authorities to operationalise Phase-I at the earliest, while subsequent phases towards Ganderbal and Pandach are intended to complete the ring-road system around the region.