By: Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir is awaiting the Government of India’s approval to the Detailed Projects Reports(DPRs)and external funding for the ambitious metro rail projects for Srinagar and Jammu cities.
Documents in possession of The Precious Kashmir reveal that administration of the Union Territory is awaiting the approval/appraisal of DPRs of these two projects along with funding from the Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
The DPRs of the projects were submitted to the Centre after Administrative Council headed by then Lieutenant Governor, GC Murmu on February 6 last year approved the proposal of Housing & Urban Development Department’s to set up elevated light rail system in both the capital cities of J&K Union Territory.
The DPRs of these projects were prepared by the Rail India Technical and Economic Service(RITES) Limited.
According to documents, Jammu and Kashmir has sought the Government of India’s support to get external funding for these projects.
It is pushing for funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for these projects.
The investment cost is supposed to be Rs 4,825 crore for Jammu light metro and Rs 5,734 crore for Srinagar light metro.
The light rail transit System in Jammu will have its one corridor from Bantalab to Bari Brahmana with an entire length of 23 kilometres whereas in Srinagar it will have two corridors, the first one is from Indira Nagar to HMT Junction and the second is from Usmanabad to Hazuri Bagh, with an entire length of 25 kilometres.
The elevated light rail systems were conceived for Srinagar and Jammu cities to facilitate easy and quick movement of people in both the capitals.