Srinagar, March 17 – The Government of Jammu & Kashmir has confirmed that the Srinagar Metrolite Project is still awaiting approval from the Central Government, with no final decision yet from the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India.
In a written reply to a question raised by MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the Detailed Project Report (DPR), revised at an estimated cost of ₹4,893 crore, was submitted to MoHUA but has yet to receive approval.
“The project has not been approved yet by MoHUA, GoI,” the Chief Minister, who also oversees the Housing & Urban Development Department, confirmed.
No Execution Plans Until Approval
With the project still in the approval stage, the government clarified that no consultations have been initiated with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) or any other firms for its execution. Additionally, no timeline for the project’s completion can be determined at this point.
Srinagar Smart City Project Nears Completion
Amid concerns about the slow pace of work on the Srinagar Smart City initiative, the government stated that the redevelopment of Nishat Sathu—a key component of the project—is nearing completion.
According to the Chief Minister’s reply, the upgradation of Nishat Sathu, including a cycle track, walkway, and deck from Nishat to Dhol Dum, commenced in September 2022 under Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL). However, progress was delayed due to several challenges:
- Manual construction work requiring heavy headload transportation.
- Shifting of LT/HT poles, which slowed operations.
- Local resistance to converting the proposed cycle track and walkway into a vehicular road.
Despite these setbacks, the government confirmed that only minor finishing work, including fishing decks, remains pending, and the project is expected to be fully completed by March 2025.
“Resources are being mobilized on a war footing basis to ensure the completion of the remaining work,” the government stated.
While the Srinagar Smart City project progresses, the Metro project remains uncertain, pending approval from the Centre.
