A vital link for commuters and Kashmir’s apple trade, the 216-metre bridge is facing fresh repairs during the peak horticulture season, renewing calls for a lasting solution.
Suhail Khan
In Sopore, north Kashmir, a bridge was built to do something simple but essential make everyday travel easier, reduce traffic congestion and help farmers transport their produce to markets across the country.
But years after its inauguration, the Sopore Bypass Bridge continues to face maintenance challenges, leaving commuters and transporters hoping that the latest round of repairs will finally bring lasting relief.
The 216-metre bridge is more than just a road link. It connects important routes towards Baramulla and Kupwara districts and provides an alternative passage for heavy vehicles that would otherwise add to congestion in Sopore town.
Its location near the Sopore Fruit Mandi, one of the region’s major fruit trading centres, makes it especially important for Kashmir’s horticulture sector. During the apple season, trucks carrying fresh produce pass through the area in large numbers, transporting fruit to markets across India.
For growers, traders and transporters, a smooth journey can make a significant difference. Delays and traffic disruptions, on the other hand, can complicate the movement of produce during the busiest period of the year.
The bridge was inaugurated in 2015 by then Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, bringing an end to a wait that had stretched across nearly 23 years since construction began.
Before its opening, the project had missed several deadlines, becoming a long-standing concern for the people of Sopore.
At the inauguration, he said the project would provide significant relief to residents by reducing congestion in Sopore’s main market and allowing heavy vehicles to travel towards Kupwara and Baramulla without passing through the town’s busiest areas.
For residents, the opening marked the completion of a long-awaited infrastructure project that promised to improve connectivity and support local businesses.
However, concerns about the bridge’s condition emerged within two years of its inauguration.
In 2017, cracks were reported on the structure, triggering concern among residents. Officials at the time attributed the damage to heavy snowfall.
Since then, maintenance issues have periodically brought the bridge back into the spotlight, with temporary interventions offering relief but failing to put an end to recurring concerns.
The latest challenge comes as the bridge undergoes another round of repairs.
Under an order issued by the District Magistrate, Baramulla, the bridge has been temporarily closed 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 (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 take the route via Amargad, Chankhan Bridge, Degree College Crossing, Mandi Crossing and the bypass.
The administration has asked commuters to follow traffic police instructions, avoid unnecessary halts and cooperate with officials. However, heavy traffic was reported at several locations on the first day of the closure, underlining the difficulties of diverting vehicles through the town. With nine more days of restrictions remaining after the first day, managing traffic through the town is expected to pose a challenge for the administration.
For the people whose livelihoods depend on the uninterrupted movement of agricultural produce, the coming days will test how effectively the arrangements work.
National Conference MLA from Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar said the administration had taken up the matter and expressed hope that its efforts would provide relief to residents and transporters.
MLA Kar pointed out that the bridge remained under the jurisdiction of the Government of India’s Border Roads Organisation, (BEACON) He said the Roads and Buildings Department was awaiting the necessary approval.
He expressed hope that the issue could be addressed once the approval process was completed, stressing the importance of resolving the concerns ahead of the peak horticulture season.
For Sopore, the bridge is not merely a piece of infrastructure. It is an important link between communities, markets and livelihoods.
Its location near the fruit mandi means that its condition can affect not only daily commuters but also the farmers, traders, labourers and transporters who keep the region’s apple economy moving.
The immediate priority is to complete the repairs on time and minimise disruption. But the larger concern remains whether repeated maintenance work can be replaced with a durable, long-term solution.
After waiting 23 years for the bridge to become operational, residents had hoped it would bring lasting relief. Today, they are once again waiting — this time for the assurance that the route they depend on will remain safe, reliable and accessible when they need it most.
