Ramban, September 2, 2025 – In a swift response to circulating reports of structural damage on the Ramban flyover, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ramban, Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary, has categorically refuted claims of significant cracks developing in the key infrastructure along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44). The statement comes amid heavy rainfall lashing the Jammu region, which has triggered concerns over landslides, shooting stones, and potential disruptions to vital connectivity.The Ramban flyover, a 1.08-km-long four-lane viaduct completed in late 2023 at a cost of Rs 328 crore, serves as a critical bypass for the bustling town of Ramban, easing traffic congestion and reducing travel time between Jammu and Srinagar. Constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to mitigate chronic bottlenecks caused by the town’s market area and frequent landslides, the structure was partially operationalized during the 2023 Amarnath Yatra and fully opened in November 2023.
It has since handled thousands of vehicles daily, diverting heavy traffic from the old highway alignment.Reports emerged earlier today from local sources and social media, alleging that cracks appeared on the flyover during the afternoon downpour, raising alarms about its safety and the risk of closure on the strategic NH-44 – the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of India. Incessant rains since early Tuesday have pounded districts including Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, and Kathua, leading to shooting stones at multiple stretches and waterlogging in low-lying areas. Similar weather patterns in south Kashmir, particularly in Qazigund, Kulgam, and Anantnag, have heightened fears of landslides in vulnerable zones.
Addressing the media at the District Headquarters in Ramban, DC Chaudhary dismissed the reports as “exaggerated and baseless,” emphasizing that routine inspections by NHAI engineers and district officials found no evidence of structural compromise. “The flyover is robust and designed to withstand adverse weather conditions
