With plans underway to develop water-based transportation and eco-tourism, Kashmir aims to ease traffic congestion, boost local economy, and reconnect with its historic roots along the Jhelum River
Recently, it has been recognised that all modes of surface transport in the country, namely rail, road, and water, hold equal importance, and each should be considered as part of an integrated transport system. One of the main advantages of inland water transport is that most of the waterways are gifts of nature and can be used for navigation with minimal investment.
The frequent traffic jams on our roads take a toll on our time and energy, challenge our patience, and cause considerable mental tension, particularly during emergencies, such as transporting a critical patient to the hospital or catching a flight at the airport.
We also find roads occupied by parked vehicles on both sides of the internal city roads, leaving little space for moving traffic. This is due to the absence of adequate parking spaces, which necessitates the construction of multi-storey parking facilities in the city. The acquisition of land and structures for this purpose should have been an important component of the Smart City Project. Hence, an alternative mode of transport on waterways like the River Jhelum, Dal Lake, and other lakes in the valley could significantly relieve traffic pressure.
A hundred years ago, most internal commerce in Kashmir depended on the Jhelum. Before the construction of motorable roads connecting Srinagar with Khanabal and Baramulla, the Jhelum served as the main highway for passenger and goods traffic throughout the valley. Moreover, the river and its tributaries have been the primary sources of irrigation in the valley, supporting its lush greenery. The length of the river from its source to Baramulla is approximately 240 km, while the distance from Khanabal to Baramulla is about 163 km. Srinagar was known as the Venice of the East, owing to its location on the banks of the River Jhelum and the brick-lined Nalla Mar, with its crisscrossing branch channels spreading like a spider’s web on the right bank of the river. These channels became filled due to urbanisation and the advent of road transport.
The study group established by the Government of India in December 1953 recommended that inland water transport should be accorded its proper place in the country’s future planning. The Committee on Transport Policy and Coordination, formed in July 1959 and reconstituted in July 1964, advised that inland water transport development should be viewed within each region’s integrated transport plan, aligned with the national transport framework. They also recommended that to harness the potential of waterways with favourable natural conditions, long-term plans of at least 10 to 15 years should be developed.
The Jhelum River could serve as an important means of transport in the Kashmir Valley, especially around Srinagar. With increasing agricultural and fruit production, combined with traffic congestion, the existing road network is inadequate to meet current demands. It is well established that inland water transport is the most cost-effective mode of transport for certain types of traffic, both over long and short distances, particularly between locations on the waterfront. As a more economical alternative to other surface transport modes, inland water transport (IWT) can help reduce costs and stabilise commodity prices.
Developing waterways is less expensive compared to constructing new roads and railways. The latter requires extensive land acquisition, with associated rehabilitation and environmental challenges, whereas IWT relies largely on natural tracks. Developing new roads and rail in Srinagar’s urban area remains a costly and long process. Increasing passenger and cargo movement within Greater Srinagar has become a concern for the government. Consequently, in December 1988, the Planning Department of Jammu & Kashmir commissioned RITES to prepare an integrated multi-modal transport plan to meet the rising demand up to 2021. The final report was submitted in January 1992.
Considering the traffic challenges in Srinagar’s urban area, the proposal for a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for developing inland water transport on the River Jhelum from Pampore to Chattabal has attracted government attention. The Commissioner & Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department of Jammu & Kashmir invited RITES to prepare the DPR for the IWT system on the River Jhelum in Srinagar, and this project was sanctioned via a letter dated 25 July 1997.
After reviewing the objectives, previous studies on the river’s development potential, and the scope of services, a DPR was prepared under my supervision, when I was the Superintending Engineer of the Srinagar Development Authority and designated as the Project Director for IWT.
The DPR comprised the following sections: 01. Introduction; 02. Traffic estimation and projection; 03. Hydrographic survey; 04. Waterway; 05. Terminals; 06. Vessels; 07. Organisational setup; 08. Environmental Impact Assessment; 09. Implementation schedule (proposed to be executed in three phases starting from 1999–2000); 10. Project appraisal; 11. Conclusions and recommendations.
The passenger vessel was designed by the Visakhapatnam Shipping Company to accommodate 48 seated and 58 standing passengers, along with a special vessel for tourists capable of carrying only 30 passengers. Historically, when water transport was the primary mode of transportation, most shops selling Kashmiri arts and crafts were located along either bank of the River Jhelum. Many historic sites are within walking distance of the riverbanks. Therefore, developing IWT on the River Jhelum could revive business activities along both banks.
Based on this study, the following recommendations were made:
A) The project is recommended for immediate implementation, considering its significant socioeconomic benefits and acceptable economic rates of return.
B) The possibility of private investment in the development and operation of the IWT system should be explored in detail to reduce the financial burden on the Government of Jammu & Kashmir. However, if all operations are managed by the government, returns would be maximised.
C) It is advised that a techno-economic feasibility study be conducted for the development of IWT on the River Jhelum from Anantnag to Baramulla at the earliest, as this could further improve the project’s viability.
For the project’s implementation, the government directed that the DPR be handed over to LAWDA, which later transferred it to the IFC Department. Since then, it has reportedly been gathering dust on the shelves. Apart from erecting signboards at terminal sites, no progress has been made. Every year, we hear that IWT on the River Jhelum will be initiated, but no action is observed on the ground, despite increasing traffic jams in the city.
Recently, however, good news has appeared in the media: the Jammu & Kashmir government is actively working to develop inland water transport on the Jhelum River, aiming to utilise its potential for both transportation and tourism. The project is awaiting approval from the central government and involves developing infrastructure such as ghats and fairways.
The focus is on developing the Jhelum River from Pampore to Chattabal for inland water transport. This includes establishing boarding and disembarking points along the riverbanks and developing navigational fairways through dredging where necessary. The J&K government has submitted a DPR to the central government for approval, with an estimated cost of Rs 323 crore at current rates.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed an MoU with the J&K government to develop river navigation infrastructure, including the Jhelum, as part of three national waterways in the Union Territory. IWAI is responsible for setting up floating jetties, developing fairways, providing night navigational aids, and conducting hydrographic surveys.
So far, IWAI has established an office in Srinagar and is collaborating with local authorities to expedite the project. They have also awarded contracts for seven floating concrete jetties. Preliminary surveys have identified viable segments on the Jhelum, Chenab, and Ravi rivers for water transport.
The project is also viewed as a means to boost eco-tourism, offering new leisure and budget tourism options on the rivers. The J&K government is exploring the use of electric-powered cruise vessels for passenger transport.
Historically, water transport was vital in Kashmir, and this project aims to revive that mode of transportation along with its economic benefits. Concerns have been raised about whether vessels can operate during winter when water levels are low. Experts suggest that even a depth of one metre is sufficient for vessel navigation, which can be maintained by authorities.
It is expected that the project will be completed within the stipulated timeframe, providing an alternative mode of transport that will reduce pressure on city roads, boost tourism through pleasure rides, revive shopping centres on either bank of the river, and facilitate access to historical sites located on or near the riverbanks—areas where Srinagar and towns like Anantnag, Awantipora, Bijbehara, Pampore, and Baramulla originally developed along the Jhelum.
Er Ashraf Fazili
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