Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday inaugurated the newly redeveloped historic Amira Kadal pedestrian bridge, a project designed to blend modern amenities with the city’s rich historical heritage.
During a brief interaction with the media after the inauguration of the revamped pedestrian bridge in the heart of Srinagar, he said the project, undertaken under the Srinagar Smart City initiative, aimed to create vibrant cultural public spaces by integrating the city’s traditional character with contemporary infrastructure.
“This is an old and historic bridge whose redesign project began back in 2023. Today, after two years of work, it has been dedicated to the residents of Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley as a whole,” the LG said.
“Under the Smart City project, great care has been taken to link ancient heritage with modern amenities so that vibrant cultural spaces can be created in Srinagar city,” he added.
Whether it is this bridge, the ongoing riverfront development, the revival of old historical places and architecture, gardens, parks or other public spaces, the administration’s focus has remained on restoring the city’s deep-rooted connection with its traditions.
Officials said the redeveloped wooden footbridge is expected to significantly improve pedestrian mobility across the Jhelum River while preserving the historic character of the Amira Kadal precinct.
The bridge will now serve as a much-needed alternative to the main road bridge, which has long been overcrowded due to commercial and vehicular traffic, leaving little room for safe pedestrian crossing.
The renovation project, executed by Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) at a cost of Rs 7.17 crore, was completed in early 2026 to restore the old bridge as a pedestrian-only heritage landmark, with the formal inauguration by the Lieutenant Governor held on Tuesday.
The historic Amira Kadal Bridge, originally constructed between 1774 and 1777, was being renovated and redeveloped by the government as a pedestrian-only, heritage-style bridge.
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