State approves elevated light metro rail system in Jammu and Srinagar

Jammu & Srinagar, India (Urban Transport News): To ease the public transport in twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar, the Jammu & Kashmir government on 6th February 2020 has approved the two light metro rail projects in the state. In a meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor, GC Murmu, the Administrative Council (AC) approved the proposal of the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD) to build elevated Light Rail System in both the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.

After a detailed discussion in the meeting, it was felt that an efficient urban transport system including Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is essential for an inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth process. To meet this objective, elevated Light Rail Systems have been conceived for Srinagar and Jammu cities to provide “best-in-class” mobility in terms of safe, reliable, convenient, cost-effective and sustainable public transport systems.

The elevated light metro rail system will not only facilitate easy and quick movement of people but also have a positive impact on the economy and quality of life in these cities. The Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) in Jammu will have one corridor from Bantalab to Bari Brahmana with a total length of 23 kilometers whereas in Srinagar it will have two corridors, one from Indira Nagar to HMT Junction and second from Usmanabad to Hazuri Bagh, with a total length of 25 kilometers.

The capital cost of the project, at current prices, including land, R&R and taxes are estimated to be Rs 4,825 crore for Jammu Light Metro and Rs 5,734 crore for Srinagar Light Metro. The Railway consultancy firm RITES Limited has recently submitted the final detailed project reports (DPRs) to Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD) for both cities. The Administrative Council has authorized HUDD to submit both DPRs to Central Government for appraisal and funding including external funding. According to the DPRs, the project has a completion time of four years and is expected to be completed by December 2024.

The expected ridership of this Jammu & Srinagar light metro rail has been estimated to be 2.6 lakh by 2024 which is expected to increase up to 5.42 lakh by 2044 in each city. After getting approval from the Centre, the Housing & Urban Development Department (HUDD) will notify the Government lands within 500 meters on either side of the corridor and reserve the same for development purposes. In the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor has also approved in principle the engagement of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for handholding the MRTCs for appraisal and approval of the DPRs by the Central Government and for any possible external funding.