Consultancy suggests metro to overcome Srinagar traffic mess

At a time when Srinagar is grappling with huge traffic mess triggering chaos all around, development consultancy RITES has come up with Rs 24000 crore comprehensive mobility plan suggesting a metro system.

The proposal, according to the officials of RITES, stands submitted to the J&K government, however there is no headway so far. According to the detailed proposal, RITES has proposed setting up of light metro from Galander to Narbal comprising 33.1 kms to be constructed at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore. The proposal also calls for similar light metro service from Nowgam railway station to Ganderbal.

It stresses on establishing mini-metro system to be known as mini-metro or small monorail at a cost of Rs 1600 crore. The mini-metro can be set up from circular road along Dal Lake to Kashmir University via Nishat Garden, it said. The plan further calls for establishing sub-urban rail commuter system involving Rs 3200 crore that would cover 117 kms of city area.

The plan also suggests that there should be augmentation of new bus fleet. “For city bus system, terminals should be established at Pantha Chowk, Soura, Batamaloo and Nowgam railway station,” it says. “At least nine new parking slots should be constructed with each having capacity of 5000 vehicles.”

The plan calls for footpath improvement system with separate foot bridges, four in number, for pedestrians on river Jehlum. Terming the existing footpaths as faulty, the plan advocates footpaths should not be above the road surface. “There should be a 22-km cycle-track cum footpath around Dal Lake,” the plan reads.

The plan also suggests making the inland water transport system functional. “There should be inland water transport from Pantha Chowk to Chattabal Vier, Budshah Chowk to Dalgate to Hazratbal and Dalgate to Anchar Lake via Nigeen,” it says.

The plan calls for immediate ban on street parking.

The plan also stresses streamlining various departments to streamline traffic in Srinagar. “There should be transport planning unit in Srinagar Development Authority. Existing personnel should be trained through short term courses on traffic. There should also be a Central Traffic Control System,” the plan reads. The plan also urges the government to establish a Srinagar Metropolitan Transport Authority (SMTA) that would act as umbrella organization to coordinate urban transport projects.