Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

Reviving the memories of olden days of a boat ride across Jhelum or the Dal Lake as the most common mode of transportation for residents in Srinagar and around, the first bus boat cruised through Jhelum in Srinagar on Thursday on a trial basis.

A New Zealand made bus boat did a trial run in Jhelum with 30 invitees on board. The private company Sukhnag enterprises, that launched the ride is planning to launch the waterways transportation in a major way in Jhelum.

Boat bus moving theough Jhelum

It may be recalled that the Waterways Authority of India has declared four rivers of Jammu and Kashmir – Jhelum, Ravi, Indus and Chenab – as national waterways that will be developed for transportation and tourism in a phased manner.

However, among all these rivers, only Jhelum is a traditional waterway and it offers a viable business model.

The project is part of the Jammu and Kashmir government’s plans to switch over to non-conventional energy resources and the burning of fossil fuels being the biggest emitter of the atmosphere heating gases.

Imran Malik, director of Sukhnag Enterprises said, “We are aiming to revive water transport. On a trial basis, the bus boat will ply from Lasjan to Veer Chattabal,” he said.

Malik said his company will buy more such boats to launch a full-fledged transportation service.

The boat bus is covered with a transparent cover for the people to enjoy the scenic environment as against the traditional wooden shikaras used in Kashmir earlier.

Happy passengers boarding the bus boat at a Ghat

He appreciated the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha led administration and Tourism department for taking such initiatives, which would help in reviving the water transport.

Malik also appealed the common masses to use water transport like road transport. 

Accounts The manager of the company, Abdul Hanan said that this is the first such initiative, adding that they have procured this boat from outside the country as per the instructions of the Government of India.

“JKTDC (Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department) had issued tenders in this regard and we have procured it. We have imported this boat, which has a capacity of 35 passengers, drivers and four rescue operators.”

Curious onlookers seeing the bus boat

Trial of the bus boat was successful. We have done the trial run from Lasjan (Srinagar outskirts) to Lal Chowk,” Hanan said.

“As the roads are already congested, the water transport will help in easing the hardships of people,” he said.

Besides it will be the cheapest most of transportation for the residents of Srinagar and its suburbs. 

(Pictures by Basit Zargar)