Srinagar: Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Dheeraj Guptaon Thursday announced Metripolitan Regional Development Authorities (MRDAs) and Metropolitan Regional Development Councils (MRTCs) for coordinated development of Srinagar and Jammu the twin capital cities during a press conference in Srinagar. He was accompanied by Principal Secretary Planing and Development Rohit Kansal.Below is the text of the Government order Kansal read out at the press meet:
Metropolitan Region Development Authorities, Jammu & Srinagar
The Metropolitan areas of Jammu & Srinagar as well as their population, have grown rapidly over the past few decades. The State Government, being conscious of the challenges in planned development of the Capital Regions of the State, has enacted “The Jammu and Kashmir Metropolitan Region Development Authorities Act, 2018” in December, 2018, and subsequently created two umbrella Authorities under the Act, namely, “Jammu Metropolitan Region Development Authority” and “Srinagar Metropolitan Region Development Authority” to provide an integrative framework for the purpose of planned development of these regions.
These Metropolitan Region Development Authorities are expected to serve the purposes of coordination, besides supervising the proper, orderly and rapid development of the areas in these regions and executing plans, projects and schemes for such development and also raise resources for mega projects.
The Authorities, will prepare an “Infrastructure Development Plan” which will be the guide for annual investments in creating infrastructure. In the next few years, the thrust of the annual plan will be to reduce the deficit on infrastructure — roads, water supply, sewerage, storm water drainage, public transportation including, light rails, e-buses and other amenities.
Besides infrastructure, these authorities, through a consultative exercise with the Police and the Municipal Corporations and Deputy Commissioners will formulate a Comprehensive Mobility Management Plan, for managing mobility in the region.
These new authorities will also prepare a Sustainable Management Plan for sustainable management of the urban environment, such as, increasing the area under green cover, water conservation, waste water treatment, water recycling, rainwater harvesting, energy conservation, adoption of renewable sources of energy, provision of open spaces and city parks.
The State Administrative Council, on 3rd July, 2019, has approved the areas to be included in the Srinagar Metropolitan Region and Jammu Metropolitan Region.
The areas for these Metropolitan Region Development Authorities have been selected on the principles of regional planning and development. This included the economic interdependence of the mother city with the city region, mobility and the geographical contiguity. The planning and development at the regional level will ensure the economic development of the mother city as well as the city region. The supra bodies are expected to steer ahead the development projects spanning over multiple jurisdictions and shall also bring in innovation, speed, effectiveness, efficiency, economy and accountability in the existing framework.
As per the approval, Srinagar Metropolitan Region will cover the areas of districts of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian covering an approximate area of 2494.65 sq. kms. (app.), the details of which are as under:
S.No.
. District No. of Revenue Villages Total Area
Kanals Marlas
1. Srinagar 124 514116 19
2. Kulgam 126 331799 10.5
3. Pulwama 240 922715 02
4. Bandipora 21 142461 –
5. Baramulla 281 1049195 01
6. Shopian 163 451400 18
7. Ganderbal 81 298629 15.5
8. Budgam 312 900717 193
9. Anantnag 104 378268 –
Total 1452 4989304 3.5
Similarly, the Jammu Metropolitan Region will cover the areas of districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, and Udhampur covering an area of 2216.58 sq. kms. (app.) , the details of which are as under:
S.No. District No. of. Revenue Villages
Total Area, Kanals . Marlas
1. Jammu 625 1961625 12
2. Samba 260 1390297 14
3. Kathua 65 216916 04
4. Reasi 41 350144 18
5. Udhampur 116 514177 02
Total 1,107 . 44,33,161 10
The Authorities will also develop Satellite Townships in Greater Jammu and Greater Srinagar. Million sq ft IT parks will also be developed in these townships.
To fully operationalize these Authorities, necessary staff, including outsourced domain experts will be provided by the Government.
Mass Rapid Transit Corporations, Jammu & Srinagar
Two Mass Rapid Transit Corporations (MRTCs), for both the capital cities of the State, were incorporated in February this year. Dr E. Sreedharan, has been appointed as the Principal Advisor to these Corporations.
These Corporations are the extended arms of the Metropolitan Authorities, earlier constituted by the State Government, and are there to supplement the efforts of these authorities in achieving their objectives of proper, orderly and rapid development of these areas and executing plans, projects and schemes especially related to Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) and Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS).
These Corporations are taking steps to address the issue of urban mobility in the State in a holistic manner by providing safe, affordable, quick, comfortable, reliable and sustainable access for the growing number of city residents to jobs, education, recreation and such other needs within our cities, by establishment of quality focused multi-modal public transport systems that are well integrated, providing seamless travel across modes, land use transport integration, introducing intelligent transport systems for traffic management etc.
Comprehensive Mobility Plans (CMPs) for the two Capital cities earlier prepared by RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) — A Government of India Enterprise, are being updated. The two MRTCs will take further steps to implement the recommendations.
Elevated Light Rail Transit System for the two Capital Cities
As a part of the recommendations of CMP, the MRTCs have undertaken the implementation of the Light Rail Transit Systems for the two Capital Cities. The SAC in its meeting held on 7th June this year, approved the Elevated Corridor option for the two Light Rail Transit Systems to be operationalized. M/S RITES is finalizing the DPRs for the two Light Rail Transit Systems.
It is proposed to have Light Rail System, the first in India, which will have low footprint, low noise, greater comfort, aesthetic appeal and will blend with the surrounding landscape.
The estimated cost of the first phase of the project is about Rs 8500 crores, to be funded through debt, State’s equity and Central assistance.
Proposed Corridors
Srinagar: Phase-1
2 Corridors; HMT Junction to Indra Nagar & Osmanabad to Hazuribagh; 25 km; 24 Stations
Phase-II
2 Corridors; lndra Nagar to Pampore Bus Stand & Hazuribagh to Airport; 17.5 km; 14 Stations.
Jammu: Phase-I
2 Corridors; Bantalab to Greater Kailash & Udheywala to Exhibition Ground; 23 km; 23 Stations
Phase-II
2 Corridors; Greater Kailash to Bari Brahamana Rly Station & Exhibition Ground to Satwari Chowk to Airport; 20.5 km; 17 Stations.
Operationalization of City e-buses
As per the mandate given, two MRTCs have also undertaken preliminary steps for operationalizing city buses, within the jurisdiction of the MRDAs, to set new standards and benchmarks in public transport. These will be app based, air-conditioned, smart e-buses with automatic fare collection systems.