For a planned growth of twin capitals, the State Administrative Council has approved the areas to be included for the setting up of the Metropolitan Region Development Authorities for Jammu and Srinagar.
The SAC, which met here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik, also approved the Mass Rapid Transit Corporations for Jammu and Srinagar. The MRDA Act had been enacted in December 2018.
“These Metropolitan Region Development Authorities are expected to serve the purpose of coordination, besides supervising proper, orderly and rapid development of the areas in these regions and executing plans, projects and schemes for such growth and also raise resources for mega projects,” Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, with additional charge of Smart Cities and Proposed New Jammu, Srinagar, said at a press briefing here on Thursday.
The authorities will prepare a development plan to guide for the annual investments in creating the infrastructure, Gupta added. He said the thrust of the plan in the next few years would be to reduce the deficit on infrastructure like roads, water supply, sewerage, storm water drainage, public transportation, including light rails, e-buses and other amenities. It will also formulate a plan for managing mobility in the region.
Meanwhile, Mass Rapid Transit Corporations, Jammu and Srinagar, will address the issues of urban mobility in the state “by providing safe, affordable, quick, comfortable, reliable and sustainable access for the growing number of city residents to jobs, education, recreation and other facilities”. The estimated cost of the first phase of the project is about Rs 8,500 crore, to be funded through debt, state’s equity and Central assistance, Gupta added.
Proposed corridors
Srinagar Phase- I: HMT Junction to Indira Nagar and Osmanabad to Hazuribagh (25 km, 24 stations)
Phase II: Indira Nagar to Pampore Bus Stand and Hazuribagh to Srinagar airport (17.5 km, 14 stations)
Jammu Phase I: Bantalab to Greater Kailash and Udheywala to Exhibition Ground (23 km, 23 stations)
Phase II: Greater Kailash to Bari Brahmana railway station and Exhibition Ground to Satwari Chowk to airport (20.5 km, 17 stations)
