Srinagar, Dec 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has tasked a high-level panel to oversee implementation of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) in twin capital cities of the Srinagar and Jammu in a bid to streamline the growing traffic in the State.
 The work on the mega project, whose cost is likely to run into thousands of crores, is likely to start next year.
 The 10-member committee to be headed by the Chief Secretary would report to the Government on laying metro and mono rail services, introducing Bus Rapid Transport System, Inland Waterways Transport System, development of parking spaces and widening of roads sites in the Srinagar and Jammu cities in view of the growing traffic pressure.
 The CMP prepared by M/S Rites Company was earlier Okayed by the government.
 “The committee shall oversee implementation of the mobility plan in Srinagar and Jammu cities,” a government order reads.
 The Commissioner/Secretary Roads and Buildings, Tanveer Jahan, said the plan is aimed to decongest the traffic in the cities and different options are being worked out for the same.
 The traffic has grown manifold in the two cities over the past few years and with no expansion of the existing road network the long-hours traffic jam has become a routine.
 While Jammu has 407400 vehicles- the highest in any district-registered with the Transport department, the number of vehicles is 167963 in Srinagar.
 In J&K the total number of registered vehicles has grown up to more than 737577.
 A senior official said the CMP is a detailed plan for introducing Mass and Rapid Transport System in the cities.
 In the draft city mobility plan, RITES has identified areas requiring focused attention to improve and upgrade traffic management in Srinagar and Jammu.
 The official said the company has suggested short and long term measures for improvement of transport scenario and stressed on need for upgrading mobility within the cities keeping in view the traffic growth and consequent challenges up to 2030.
 The experts from the RITES had made a presentation on the CMP to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah last month following which Omar had asked different departments to coordinate for addressing traffic management in the twin capitals.
 Sources said the draft plan is at the final stages and the Planning and Development Department has got response from departments on its implementation.
 “The same was forwarded to M/S RITES for its response so that the Government moves forward on it,” sources said.
 The final Mobility Plan would be placed before the state cabinet for approval following which work would be taken up.
 An official in the Planning Department said the implementation of the plan is a multi-department effort and would require funding of Rs 15000 crores to Rs 20000 crore in each city.
 He said the PPP (Public-Private-Partnership) was the only way to implement this program given the financial constraints.
 “The state Government will take up the issue with the Planning Commission for funding during the meeting on annual plan for 2013-14,” the official said. 

Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST