Delay in finalizing the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar initiated by the State Government last year is attributed to the revision of the Master Plans for both the cities. The revised Master Plan for Jammu city is expected to cover 645 square kilometers instead of 268 square kms, which is almost double the area. Same is true of the city of Srinagar where the revised Master Plan envisages total area of 757 square kilometers. It is but natural that the Comprehensive Mobility Plan had to be recast keeping in view the expanded area that will fall under the revised plan.
RITES is a Government of India Undertaking which has specialization in transport and road communication areas. The State Government has designated RITES to conduct the study and prepare the blue print of the Mass and Rapid Transport System for the two cities. The RITES did conduct the study in both the cities but this had to be deferred till the revised Master Plan for two cities was prepared to give the authorities better idea of what and where to improve the transport system. The RITES was notified the revised plan and it carried out the study for the same in Srinagar which is now ready to be placed before State cabinet. However in the case of Jammu, the RITES have not so far completed the revised CMP.
When this matter came up for discussion, the Chief Secretary decided to make the research and plan strictly time bound. He fixed first week of February 2014 by which time the RITES should submit the revised plan of Comprehensive Mobility for the city of Jammu. We now hope that the organization will keep the date and deliver the final draft by the stipulated date sheet.
The harsh fact is that in both the capital cities, transport system is primitive, obsolete and hazardous. But public transport and mobility is one area in which our state is lagging far behind other neighbouring states like Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. The Mass and Rapid Transport System is intended to serve many purposes. The existing transport system in the city and its immediate outskirts is primitive. The plan envisages new standard mini bus fleets to operate on widened roads, mono rails, computer rail service, urban planning and design, radial road pattern, making of by-passes and adding road capacity. Both of the capital cities being ancient towns have narrow lanes and by-lanes which become the source of huge bottleneck for the city traffic.
We understand that the most crucial and complicated task in this entire project is that of widening the existing roads. It entails enormous funds by way of compensation to the house and structure owners. Houses and structures acquired need to be demolished and destroyed to make space available for widening of the road. The idea of mono rail and computerized rail is a must as it has proved most feasible in modern town planning. The mono rail and metro do not only assure rapid and much safer mobility but also ensure non pollution and non-degradation of ecology. The two cities are crowded owing to large scale rural population shifting to two cities. There will be need for building more flyovers and subways to remove traffic bottlenecks and reduce traffic jamming.
The Centre is reported to have reacted generously to the idea of Comprehensive Mobility Plan for the two capital cities. The Chief Minister in his presentation before the Planning Commission had committed his Government to the introduction of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan and it is logical that his Government should have imposed time schedule on RITES to ensure the completion of the CMP by first week of February 2014. Once that exercise is completed, the matter will go to the cabinet for discussion and final nod.
The people in both the cities had felt happy on learning that the traffic woes in the capital cities are a matter of short time and with the introduction of new plan, the two cities will get a new look and status. It has also become necessary to devise ways so that increase in private vehicle is reduced substantially. When people have rapid and convenient public transport available, they will think twice before they decide to go in for a private vehicle. One of the problems of Jammu and Srinagar cities today is that the number of private vehicles is too large to be managed by traffic police. A circular or Ring Road transport system conducted through a circular train or tramway would immensely reduce the number of vehicles in private sector.
We hope that the time schedule drawn by the Chief Secretary will be adhered to by the RITES. This is a famous and prestigious national organization which has many achievements to its credit. It should be possible for them to draw a Comprehensive Mobility Plan with an eye on the future expansion of the city and consequent pressure on vehicular traffic.
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