Mir Farhat
Srinagar, July 7: Following pompous launch of first passenger water transport service, cruise, in river Jhelum by the Government, it has failed to take off due to lack of infrastructure which Government was to develop.
The Government last year roped in a water transport company, Kashmir Motors Marine Services, to operate the services, claiming that it was an attempt to get rid of traffic mess on the congested roads.
But the company head Ufair Ajaz said this mode of transport cannot ease traffic congestion as necessary infrastructure to run the service is yet to be made available due to lackadaisical approach of the Government.
“It will take a lot of time to make its feasible for public transport. We have been facing lot of difficulties because of the non-availability of basic infrastructure; boarding and de-boarding terminals for the motor boats have not been built by the Government yet,” Ajaz said.
Since last year, Aijaz said, the company has had a huge learning experience how to promote it and attract people towards it. “The terminals have to be developed with changing water level in the river. For that purpose, floating pontoons are required at the terminals which have not been allotted by the Government yet.”
The project was inaugurated with much pomp and show by the then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon along with then Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation GN Qasba, Director Tourism Talat Parvez, Executive Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Imitayaz Ahmad Dar and Head Disaster Management Aamir Ali by making a trial- run of river water transport from Pantha Chowk to Chhatabal Weir.
Aijaz says under the Public-Private Partnership model it is the duty of the Government to ensure development of the necessary infrastructure to make the project feasible and successful.
“We have signed a five-year contract with the Government in which we have to make all the investment to run the transport, but Government has to provide basic facilities,” Aijaz said.
At present five cruise boats with a capacity of 12 persons are running at 18 terminals from Pantha Chowk to Habba Kadal in old city with a minimum charge of Rs 100 till five ghats and charges will exceed after five ghats. “The service has not picked up as we had expected, as the infrastructure develops, we will add 13 more motor boats to the fleet to make it economical and will also launch special packages ,” Aijaz said.
Government was aiming that the cruise will boost the tourism in Kashmir on the pattern of Venice and Milan in Italy. “But the Government has to be supportive. If all the heritage building inside the old city along the river and canal banks are allotted to us, the transport will get a major fillip to will promote heritage and cultural aspects in the old Srinagar city,” said Aijaz.
Aijaz said that in addition to it, the Government has to provide a workshop along the river bank for repair and maintenance of the boats. He also pointed out that if the Government wants to really make the service feasible to the public, the travel fare must be subsidized.
“The Government must subsidize the fare to about 50 per cent in first phase so that the service becomes affordable to public. And it will also help in its promotion as people will get accustomed to it”, Aijaz said.
In order to make the service successful and tourist attractive, different Government departments like Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Irrigation and Flood Control, and Tourism must coordinate for its maintenance.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailender Kumar told Excelsior that those people operating the water transport service should come to his office to inform him about the requirements for its operation.
“I don’t know what had happened last year (when it was launched). We will help to make the service successful as it will offer employment opportunities to some people, besides, attracting tourists also. Whatever infrastructure is required for its operation Government will provide that, but the concerned persons running it should approach my office,” Kumar said.
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