Jhelum likely to get river ferry service after trials
SRINAGAR: The glistening Jhelum glides through Srinagar, flowing past heritage buildings, historical shrines and ancient bridges. The romance ends there. The river has never been tapped successfully as a watery highway in a city struggling to cope with roads over run by cars. But Jhelum could be the way for people in Srinagar to travel as the Jammu and Kashmir government this July began trials for water transport programme on the river.
If the month-long tests succeed, a river-transport system stretching from south Kashmir to Srinagar will be opened.
The trials were conducted from July 11 with two motor boats of the Jam mu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) and a motor-driven shikara is likely to run 5km every day between the iconic Zero Bridge in downtown Srinagar and Zaina Kadal in the old quarters.
A river ferry couldbe a muchneeded alternative to avoid the chronic congestion on the road connecting these two points.
Baseer Ahmad Khan, the Kashmir divisional commissioner, said as much.
“People will be able to steer clear of road traffic snarls. The service will save commute rs’ precious time. It can be a tourist attraction too, giving visitors a chance to see the cityscape.”
The J he lump rog ram me aims at reviving the traditional water transport system in Srinagar, known as an outdoorsy city of tree-hugging Mughal gardens and the Dal lake, which a bounds with shikaras and houseboats.
Planners have set their ambitions high, saying the Jhelum could power Srinagar’ s potential to own a robust river transport system like Venice and Amsterdam.
But environmentalists cautioned that the push should be eco-savvy — no oil spill from boats, littering and tighter curbs on fuel efficiency and emission.
“If the service is occasional and for tourists only, then there will very less side-effects. But if developed as regular mode of public transport, then proper environmental assessment is needed ,” said Shakil A Rom shoo, the head of Kashmir University’ s department of earth sciences.
The trials began after chief minister M eh boob a Mufti asked officials to design steps for water transport on the Jhelum and the lakes such as Dal and Wullar dotting the scenic Himalayan landscape.