Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam today chaired a meeting to discuss and finalize the timelines for setting in motion the Metropolitan Region Development Authorities (MRDAs) at Jammu and Srinagar including its extended arms i.e the Jammu Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Private Limited and Srinagar Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Private Limited.
Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Transport Department; Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma; CEOs of Jammu/Srinagar Metropolitan Authorities, Metro Rail Transport Corporation, Smart Cities, Director Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir/ Jammu, VC SDA/JDA, Municpal Commissioners of Srinagar/ Jammu, MD J&K Housing Board and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Setting a timeframe of one week for registering the two Corporations, Chief Secretary asked the Housing & Urban Development Department to form a small group of officers who will finalize rough routes for the Metros in Srinagar and Jammu cities keeping in view various aspects/reports including the recently notified Master Plans for the cities, following which Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) or an eminent Metro expert like E. Sreedharan may be approached for preparation of the DPR. The exercise including the preparation of the DPR is to be completed by April, 2019.
Chief Secretary asked the Housing & Urban Development Department to also look for external source of funding like the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Metro Project.
CS further asked the CEOs of Jammu/Srinagar MRDAs to identify suitable areas for developing urban townships of 2-3 lakh people in both the cities by 15th March, 2019. “The identified area should form a part of the Master Plan and the Mobility Plan including metro connectivity” he said.
Chief Secretary also laid out a plan for a complete makeover and better utilization of the J&K Government properties outside the State like in Amritsar, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu etc including developing these properties as J&K Trade Centers with exhibition areas, which the businessmen/traders of J&K can utilize for exhibition and other purposes.
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