Chief Minister Mehbooba Stresses Long-Term Urban Transport Strategy
Srinagar, Feb 19 KNT: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today underscored the need for blending long-term and short-term measures to streamline urban transport in the State in view of the steadily increasing vehicular population.
Chairing a high-level meeting here, the Chief Minister described traffic management and urban mobility as critical areas requiring focused attention in policy formulation. Minister of State for Transport Sunil Sharma was also present.
Mehbooba Mufti directed the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir divisions to lead an inter-departmental response to remove road encroachments, finalise route plans and ensure proper management of vehicular growth. She asked the Municipal authorities of Jammu and Srinagar to make registration of road vendors compulsory and relocate them suitably to ease traffic flow in the twin cities.
She further directed concerned agencies to consult progress made in the water transport mode after the proposal was taken up with the Centre last summer. The Chief Minister also called for projectising junction management at critical spots in cities and towns to address traffic congestion in a time-bound manner.
During the meeting, officials informed that around 1.20 lakh vehicles are added to the roads annually, of which nearly 80 percent are two-wheelers. The completion of multi-tier parking facilities was stated to significantly reduce congestion in major urban centres.
The meeting was told that the proposed water transport system has the potential to offset nearly 30 percent of daily trips while reviving the heritage character of Jammu and Srinagar. Ten routes have been identified for re-examination under the project.
Chief Secretary B B Vyas, Financial Commissioner Housing and Urban Development Department K B Aggarwal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rohit Kansal, Commissioner-Secretary R&B Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Hemant Sharma, Secretary Transport M. Raju, Transport Commissioner Saugat Biswas, IGP Traffic Basant Rath and other senior officers attended the meeting. [KNT]
