Bus boat new option to commute in Srinagar
Bus boat affordable means of transport, locals should avail facility to avoid traffic jams: Dir Sukhnag Enterprise
Post by on Friday, July 16, 2021
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Srinagar, Jul 15: The trial run of a luxury bus boat service was conducted on Thursday on the Jhelum River.
The service has been launched on a trial basis in the river by a private company, 'Sukhnag Enterprises.'
Director Sukhnag Enterprise, Imran Malik while speaking to Rising Kashmir said that the initiative was taken under Prime Ministers Developmental Package (PMDP) called Swadesh Darshan.
The aim to restart the water transport in the valley is to decongest the roads, he said.
Giving details about the trail run, Imran Malik informed that today’s trial run was conducted from Lasjan bypass to Zero bridge near the city centre under the supervision of the marine engineers from Mumbai.
He revealed that the bus boat has the capacity of 35 passengers, drivers and four rescue operators, and is equipped with air conditioner and an LCD television.
Terming the water transport as a “cheap” means of transport service, Malik said, “Decades ago the service was operational from Khanabal (Anantnag) to Khadenyar (Uri) and the majority of people were dependent on water transport.”
“We will ascertain the impact of the service and after that will decide the future course of action”, he told Rising Kashmir.
“If water transport in the valley will revive, it will ease out the traffic burden on roads. The service will run on a trial basis from Lasjan to Veer Chattabal area”, he said.
The bus boat has been procured from outside the country, he added.
Malik assured that if the endeavor will yield good results more boats will be procured soon and floated in the waters of river Jhelum.
Notably the present dispensation led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is keenly interested in revival of water transport in the valley and for this purpose the divisional administration Kashmir extended his full support to few voluntary groups for cleaning of several water bodies in the city.
