RITES awaits nod for studies as per new Metro Policy
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 13: The launch of Mass Rapid Transport System in Jammu and Srinagar cities, which was once the priority of PDP-BJP Coalition Government, has completely gone out of its focus as a result of which Draft Plan prepared by M/s RITES, a Government of India Enterprise, is gathering dust. Moreover, no formal decision has yet been taken on holding of more studies in the light of new Metro Policy of Government of India.
Though launching Mass Rapid Transport System (metro rail) in Srinagar and Jammu cities remained hot topic in the State for many years yet formal step in this regard was initiated in the month of October 2016 when for preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) and also conducting preliminary studies the State Government engaged M/s RITES through Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA).
It was stated at that time by those at the helm of affairs in the ERA that in the first phase, projects shall be prepared for the routes as suggested in the City Mobility Plan of Srinagar and Jammu. The then CEO had also revealed that process has been initiated following the offer of the Government of Japan inviting proposals for technical cooperation under their Technical Cooperation Programme for Metro & Railway Projects in the main cities of different States in India.
Further, it was informed that initially M/s RITES will prepare DPR for a length of 45 kilometers in Srinagar city and 30 kilometers for the capital city of Jammu.
In the month of August last year, M/s RITES submitted Draft Plan to the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) for 30 kilometers route of metro in Jammu city and 45 kilometers route in Srinagar city.
“However, no further development has taken place on Mass Rapid Transport System since then”, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “even no serious deliberation on the much-hyped system has been held at any level in the Government since August last year thereby establishing that much-needed metro rail facility in the capital cities has completely gone out of the focus of the present dispensation”.
They disclosed that following submission of Draft Plan by M/s RITES the need to conduct more studies in respect of both the capital cities in the light of new Metro Policy of Government of India finalized in 2017 was felt but M/s RITES has yet not been given formal approval for the same till date despite a detailed presentation having been made in this regard before the concerned authorities of the Government.
When contacted, Chief Executive Officer of Economic Reconstruction Agency Farooq Ahmed confirmed that no further development has taken place on the much needed Mass Rapid Transport System during the past some months. “Hopefully, the decision about entrusting task of conducting more studies in the light of new Metro Policy of Government of India to M/s RITES will be taken shortly”, he added.
“The Mass Rapid Transport System is the foremost necessity in both the capital cities where there is no end to traffic related problems because of congested roads and continuous sharp rise in vehicular population”, official sources said.
“The dilly-dallying approach on the part of concerned authorities of the State is notwithstanding the fact that at the time of engaging M/s RITES for preparation of Detailed Project Report the then CEO of ERA had explicitly stated that Japanese firm has offered financial support to the project”, sources informed.
The proposed routes for Mass Rapid Transport System in winter capital are Bantalab to Bus Stand with 7 stations, Nagbani to Bus Stand with 4 stations and Bari Brahmana to Bus Stand with 7 stations.
In Srinagar city, the tentative routes suggested in the City Mobility Plan are from Nowgam Railway Station to SKIMS via Bagh-e-Mehtab, Rambagh, Jawahar Nagar, Secretariat, Barbarshah, Nowhatta, Hawal, Alamgari Bazar and Pantha Chowk to Shalteng via Lasjan, Badami Bagh, Lal Chowk, Civil Secretariat, Tatoo Ground and Bemina.
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