Even after seven months of the sanction for the establishment of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities (UMTAs) for metropolitan regions of Jammu and Srinagar there has been no progress in this regard. There has been no preparation of mobility management plan for metropolitan regions of Jammu and Srinagar and not even a single meeting has been held till date.
In order to address and coordinate the developmental challenges of the rapidly growing Srinagar and Jammu cities and executing plans, projects and schemes for such development, the J&K Government in the month of December 2018 framed Jammu and Kashmir Metropolitan Region Development Authority Act.
Chief Secretary was made Chairman while as Administrative Secretaries of Finance, Housing and Urban Development, Public Works, Transport, Jal Shakti and Planning Development and Monitoring Departments were made members of these Authorities. The other members include Additional Director General of Police, Traffic J&K, Divisional Commissioners, Chief Executive Officer of Economic Reconstruction Agency, CEOs of Jammu and Srinagar Smart City Ltd, Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Commissioners, Transport Commissioner and Vice-Chairmen of JDA and SDA.
As per reports, these Authorities were stated to secure development of an integrated, efficient, modern, multi-modal mobility system including non-motorized means of mobility with focus on movement of people and goods instead of vehicles for the areas falling in the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Region Development Authority and to undertake all such activities as are necessary in achieving the object. But to utter shock, these Authorities have not met even once which left mobility plans for Metropolitan Regions of Jammu and Srinagar unprepared. This clearly shows that concern was only confined to the issuance of order and not doing anything on ground.