Bilal Bashir Bhat
Long before, the Jhelum was not just a waterway but a living artery. Today, as the Kashmir Valley searches for cleaner and more humane mobility options, that forgotten relationship with water is slowly returning to the centre of policy conversations.
This renewed focus was evident on Monday when Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg chaired a high-level meeting to review the Inland Waterways Authority of India’s (IWAI) proposed water transport project on the River Jhelum. Senior officials from district administrations, transport, power, public works, irrigation and flood control departments, along with IWAI representatives, participated in the review.
Officials discussed land-related and technical bottlenecks affecting the project. The Divisional Commissioner directed IWAI to take possession of land at two identified locations and ordered a joint inspection by concerned departments to identify land for a third site. It was informed that four of the eight proposed locations have already been handed over. Departments were also asked to address issues related to power lines and river obstructions under bridges, while RTO Kashmir was designated as the nodal officer to ensure smooth coordination and timely reporting.
While groundwork continues at home, valuable perspective is coming from outside the Valley. In a timely initiative, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Srinagar organised a media exposure tour to Kerala, giving journalists from Jammu and Kashmir first hand access to one of India’s most successful water-based transport systems, the Kochi Water Metro. The visit underlined PIB’s role not just as a communication agency, but as a bridge between policy, practice and public understanding.
During interactions at Kochi Metro Rail Limited, senior officials shared insights into how the Water Metro evolved into a reliable, climate resilient and people friendly transport system. The delegation also experienced the service through a ferry ride, observing safety protocols, accessibility features and seamless integration with rail metro services.
Speaking exclusively to onlykashmir.in on the sidelines of the journalists’ meet, Managing Director KMRL Loknath Behera stressed that infrastructure alone is not enough. He said the time has come for the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to start training local youth in water transport-related skills so that certified local manpower is readily available if and when such a system is launched in the Valley.
He emphasised that building a strong ecosystem, from trained operators to maintenance staff and safety responders, is the real foundation of sustainable water transportation in Kashmir.
Behera noted that Kochi’s success did not happen overnight. It required investment in people, attention to detail, and long term thinking about how transport shapes daily life. His message resonated deeply with the idea of reviving the Jhelum as a working river rather than seeing it merely as a landscape feature.
Historically, Kashmir’s water transport system was integral to its economy and culture. The decline of this system came with modern roads and neglect of river infrastructure. Today, rising congestion and environmental concerns are forcing a rethink.
With feasibility studies already conducted for Srinagar and administrative reviews underway, the convergence of local planning and national learning offers cautious hope. If approached with sensitivity to history, environment and employment, water transport on the Jhelum could once again become a symbol of movement that is slow, sustainable and rooted in the Valley’s own traditions.
