Avinash Azad
The much-anticipated Srinagar Metrolite Project, envisioned as a lifeline to ease urban congestion and bolster infrastructure in Kashmir’s capital, remains mired in bureaucratic limbo, with no clear timeline for execution.
In a pointed exchange in the J&K Assembly on Monday, MLA Tanvir Sadiq questioned the government on the delays plaguing the Rs. 4,893 crore initiative, only to receive responses that underscore a troubling stagnation.
Sadiq questioned whether the Srinagar Metro Project, critical for addressing the city’s escalating traffic woes, has been delayed and, if so, why. The government conceded that the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR), prepared by M/s RITES Ltd. and submitted to the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, awaits approval. “The project has not been approved yet by MoHUA, GoI,” the response stated, pinning the hold-up on central clearance without elaborating on specific hurdles.
Pressing further, Sadiq sought details on consultations with the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) or other firms to expedite execution. The government’s reply was stark: “As the project remains at the approval stage, no steps are currently being undertaken.” On the revised timeline and completion measures, it added, “Since the report is still under consideration, no revised timeline can be determined.” The inaction has sparked concerns over Srinagar’s urban future, with Sadiq likely to intensify pressure for accountability. As approvals languish, residents brace for worsening gridlock, and a transformative project hangs in limbo.
