A flagship proposal of the Housing and Urban Development Department to set up Elevated Light Rail System in Srinagar and Jammu stands approved by the Administrative Council headed by Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu . A feel or idea of this type of rail system can be had by comparing it to the tram system but with a higher capacity and more speed but not as much as the heavy passenger rail but fitted with sophistication of passenger comforts. It is again not like metro rail system but is definitely aimed at providing best in class mobility laced with safety, reliability , convenience and the like. This system of rail is a sustainable public transport system and is cost effective too.
It is a mega project involving an estimated capital cost of Rs. 10559 crore for both the cities with a difference of Rs.900 crore more for Srinagar because of two corridors there as against one in Jammu. That the project is funded by the Government of India including its external funding once again reiterates the claim of the central leadership towards its commitment for big leaps in overall infrastructural development of Jammu and Kashmir.
Our cities and urban areas are fast expanding and so is the conventional traffic system which has its inherent drawbacks on account of density , narrow roads , time consuming because of absence of a normal speed to run due to congestion on roads and generation of lot of pollution. Both the capital cities are hearing warning bells of getting more and more polluted with each passing day. This entire scenario demands a turnaround in policies and management of efficient traffic system and under the existing circumstances, Elevated Rail System (ERS) could go a long way in addressing the emerging problems. Besides, better tastes have developed in people and journeys even of short durations are preferred to be undertaken comfortably and in lesser time. This system, therefore, was loaded with fulfilling those aspirations and providing easy and quick movement of people besides having a positive impact on the economy and quality of life in both the capital cities. However, any fears that some adverse effect on the existing conventional transport would be felt cannot sustain looking to how each mode of transport worked smoothly in those cities where not only this system but metro rail system was functioning side by side.
However, in Jammu Light Rail Transit System will have only one 23 km long corridor from Bantalab to Bari Brahmana and this route is the most congested and requires such a system urgently . In Srinagar, this system was going to have two corridors covering Indira Nagar to HMT Junction and from Usmanabad to Hazuri Bagh and that route too remains too busy with frequent traffic jams. The project is estimated to be completed within four years and we expect Housing and Urban Development Department to submit the Detailed Project Report to the Central Government for appraisal and subsequent financing it. Other necessary formalities in this respect may be completed in time so that the dream of it going on tracks in Jammu and Srinagar by the end of 2024 is fulfilled.
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