A prestigious project on inland water transport for Srinagar City is gathering dust since February 1999.  Eleven years ago, the project report was prepared but since then it rests in the shelves of LAWDA. Expected to cost Rs 25 Lacs, the project report was developed in consultancy with world famous firm M/S RITES. The project execution would make water transport between Pampore and Chattabal possible.
 As for now the project report has not only been put in the cold storage but it has literally been abandoned just because a sound technical opinion being overruled by a non-technical layman bureaucrats. And, the worthy Government honoring the same.
 The results are heavy losses to the government exchequer, besides losing the opportunity of introducing a viable alternative traffic facility with no requirement of construction of a highway or involvement of tedious land acquisition procedures for the Srinagar City. It would bring respite for commuters fed up of frequent traffic jams.
 Besides the inland water transport would give a boost to the tourism in Srinagar. The tourists would love to visit the banks of this historic City of Srinagar located on either banks of river Jhelum.
 The banks are bordered with historic shrines like that of Shah-i-Hamdan. Besides there is Budshah Tomb  with brick domes of Central Asian Architecture, Bubul Shah’s Masjid and grave, Sultan Renchan Shah’s Masjid and grave,  Pather Masjid constructed on the orders of Mughal Queen Noor Jahan and much more.
 The list is unending as we have palaces on the river banks used by Afghan Governors and Maharajas, historic temples, churches, Missionary Schools, hospitals and historic gardens now urbanized.
 An introduction of one motor boat carrying about 50 passengers without disturbing the surrounding houseboats and needing a depth of water of only one meter, designed by the experts of  Vizagapatam shipping company and without much cost, could be a novel experience.
 The investment is recoverable over a period of time. A few jetties are needed to be made at the boarding and debarking sites which also would add to the beauty of the river view already on the anvil of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
 A meeting to discuss the pros and cons of the project by all the concerned would make a big dent in introducing the river transport in the river Jhelum, which has a potential of its extension to Khannabal on South/east and to Baramulla on west/north.
 The inland transport can ultimately cover all the lakes like Dal, Manasbal, Anchar and Wullar. Only thing required is to have open mind on the plus and minus points of the project, without getting any one’s ego hit as has been experienced in the death of many such projects in the past. With the present positive bent of approach shown by the young CM, I feel the opinion shall be well taken note of.

By
Er Muhammad Ashraf Fazili
(The author BE(H0ns),CEng(I),FIE,MIRC,MASCE is Chief Engineer PWD J&K Govt (Retd). The ideas expressed are his own)

Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
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