Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 12: Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) J&K today discussed the modalities for Rail Based Mass Transit System in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar with the representatives of M/s RITES Ltd, a Government of India Enterprise.
M/s Rites Ltd was represented by Piyush Kansal, Country Head of Urban Transport and his associates while as on behalf of the State Government Vinod Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, ERA, Iftikhar A Hakim, Chief Town Planner, Kashmir, Malik Bashrat Ahmed, Director (Chief Engineer) Kashmir, ERA, Anil Raina, Chief Town Planner, Jammu, Sudheer Shah and SE R&B Jammu attended the meeting.
After discussion on the proposal for Rail Based Mass Transit System network as recommended in the City Mobility Plan for Jammu and Srinagar cities and also corridor proposed by the state stake holder departments, M/s Rites was asked to submit cost offers within a week’s time for preparation of Detailed Progress Report for Rail Transit System.
The DPR would cover aspects like City Level Traffic Study including Primary Traffic & Travel Surveys; development of Travel Demand Model and Traffic Forecast; Mass Transit System Selection; Engineering Surveys; Alignment Design, Utilities and Land; Station Planning & Intermodal Integration; System Design including Rolling Stock, Traction, S&T, AFC etc; Environmental & Social Impact Assessment; Cost Estimates, Economic & Financial Analysis/TOD; Implementation Strategy and Institutional Arrangement and Disaster, Security and Disable Friendly Measures
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of ERA Vinod Sharma, while chairing a meeting to discuss alternate strategies for completion of various developmental projects in Kashmir especially in Srinagar including the vital Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover, said that the projects are not only facing delays but massive cost escalations due to the prevailing situation.
“The labourers from outside the State have abandoned the works and the machinery deployed by contractors is lying idle,” Chief Executive Officer said.
The meeting was informed that the Sanitary Landfill Site Cell at Achhan aimed at city waste disposal has been delayed due to lack of availability of good earth forcing the Municipal Corporation to dump the waste in open leading to unhygienic conditions. The project was scheduled to be completed by end of this month.
Similarly, construction of Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh flyover and expressway corridor in Srinagar city has been abandoned as more than 600 skilled, semi-skilled labourers from outside the State left for their homes leaving the worksites. “Mobilization of such a large number of skilled laborers is expected to take another 3-4 months which is likely to delay the project beyond March 2017 which is pertinently the closing date for ADB loan for the project”, the CEO said.
He said that projects like multi-storied mechanized parking facility in Lal Chowk, up-gradation of 27 Pumping Stations, construction of surface water drainage system in Athwajan along national highway bye pass, raw water pipeline from higher reaches of Doodhganga to Water Treatment Plant Kralpora, storm water drainage system from Rawalpora Chowk to Chanapora bridge and other projects taken up by ERA with loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB) are also facing similar delays due to skilled and semi-skilled labourers abandoning the construction sites in middle of last month, lack of requisite construction material including cement, sand, good earth, metal and equipment at sites.
In view of March 2017 deadline fixed by the Asian Development Bank the Government earlier this week had asked the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to workout plan for taking up construction work in double shift as and when the situation normalizes. “The delays in these projects would lead to lack of requisite funding thereby depriving a large population and area in the Valley from vital facilities and projects which have been planned and under execution after hectic efforts of the Government”, the CEO said.
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