Mumbai, July 23 -- Avny Lavasa, Secretary of Transport, reviewed preparations for the proposed River Cruise Transport project being developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in collaboration with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. She was accompanied by the Regional Transport Officer, Kashmir, and the Joint Director of the Transport Department. The inspection covered the proposed river cruise route from Zero Bridge to Pantha Chowk and the locations of planned terminals. Officials briefed on the current stage of planning and on preliminary operational arrangements for the service.
During the visit, the Secretary visited several proposed terminals to assess infrastructure progress and operational preparedness. The inspection focused on the readiness of terminal buildings, passenger embarkation and disembarkation facilities, navigational requirements and safety measures as well as associated essential infrastructure. Attention was paid to access arrangements and the interfaces with existing road transport networks. Officials outlined steps taken to address immediate operational gaps and to sequence remaining works.
The Secretary urged close coordination among IWAI, the Transport Department and other stakeholder agencies to ensure timely completion of the project and adherence to high standards of safety, operational efficiency and passenger convenience. The River Cruise Transport project is expected to provide a sustainable and eco-friendly mode of transport while enhancing the tourism potential of the River Jhelum and offering a distinct travel option to residents and visitors. Officials indicated that the project would be integrated with broader mobility plans for the city.
Follow up inspections and interagency meetings are planned to monitor progress and to resolve outstanding logistical and regulatory matters before service commencement. The Transport Department will continue to review readiness milestones and to support IWAI in meeting technical and operational benchmarks. The visit was presented as part of ongoing efforts to diversify urban transport options and to develop riverine assets for economic and recreational use.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.