SOPORE, OCT 24: Built after nearly 23 years of waiting and inaugurated in 2015 with the promise of easing congestion and improving connectivity, the 216-metre Sopore Bypass Bridge is once again facing scrutiny as fresh repair work and a temporary closure disrupt traffic during Kashmir’s crucial apple season.
The bridge serves as an important link for commuters travelling towards Baramulla and Kupwara districts and provides an alternative route for heavy vehicles that would otherwise pass through Sopore town. Its proximity to the Sopore Fruit Mandi, one of the region’s major horticulture trading centres, makes it particularly significant for the transportation of apples to markets across the country.
For fruit growers, traders, labourers and transporters, uninterrupted connectivity during the harvesting and dispatch season is critical. Traffic delays can slow the movement of produce and complicate logistics at a time when large volumes of apples are being transported out of the Valley.
The bridge was inaugurated in 2015 by then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, bringing an end to a construction process that had stretched over nearly 23 years and missed several deadlines. At the time, the project was expected to ease congestion in Sopore’s main market and facilitate the movement of heavy vehicles towards Baramulla and Kupwara without forcing them through the town’s busiest stretches.
However, concerns over the structure emerged in 2017, when cracks were reported on the bridge. Officials at the time attributed the damage to heavy snowfall. Subsequent maintenance requirements have periodically revived concerns about the bridge’s condition and the need for a lasting solution.
The latest disruption follows an order issued by the District Magistrate, Baramulla, directing the temporary closure of the bridge from October 22 to October 31, 2026, to facilitate repair work. The closure was approved following a request from the Officer Commanding, EE (Civil), 56 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF).
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 use the route via Amargad, Chankhan Bridge, Degree College Crossing and Mandi Crossing before proceeding towards the bypass.
The administration has urged commuters to follow traffic police instructions, avoid unnecessary halts and cooperate with personnel deployed to regulate traffic. Nevertheless, heavy traffic was reported at several locations on the first day of the closure, highlighting the pressure on the town’s road network when the bypass is unavailable.
With the closure scheduled to continue until October 31, the effectiveness of traffic management arrangements will remain crucial, particularly as fruit-laden trucks and other commercial vehicles continue to move through the area. The diversions have placed additional importance on coordination among the traffic police, civil administration and road maintenance agencies to minimise inconvenience to commuters and prevent delays in the transportation of horticultural produce.
National Conference MLA from Sopore, Irshad Rasool Kar, said the administration had taken up the matter and expressed hope that the ongoing efforts would provide relief to residents and transporters.
Kar pointed out that the bridge falls under the jurisdiction of the Government of India’s Border Roads Organisation, through its BEACON organisation, and said the Roads and Buildings Department was awaiting the requisite approval. He expressed hope that the issue would be addressed once the approval process was completed, emphasising the importance of resolving the concerns ahead of the peak horticulture season.
The recurring repair requirements have renewed questions about the long-term reliability of a structure that was expected to provide sustained relief from traffic congestion. While the immediate priority is to complete the current work within the stipulated period and restore normal movement, residents and transporters also need clarity on the bridge’s condition and the measures being considered to prevent repeated disruptions.
For Sopore, the bypass is far more than a transport facility. It supports daily commuting, regional connectivity and the movement of agricultural produce that sustains thousands of livelihoods. Its location near the fruit mandi makes dependable access particularly important during the busiest period of Kashmir’s apple trade.
After waiting nearly 23 years for the bridge to become operational, residents had expected a permanent improvement in connectivity. The latest closure has once again brought their concerns to the fore, with the focus now shifting from completing repairs to ensuring that the bridge remains safe, dependable and capable of serving the region without recurring interruptions.
The larger question remains whether the current repairs will deliver lasting relief or whether a comprehensive, long-term solution will be needed to secure the bridge’s future and protect the uninterrupted movement of Sopore’s horticultural economy.
