by Urvat IL Wuska
SRINAGAR: In a bid to revive the water transport in Kashmir valley, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation launched a Water boat on trial basis in river Jhelum on Thursday.
The water boat, according to the officials, has been procured by a private company from Newzealand with an intake capacity of 35 passengers including five crew members.
Director of the company Sukhnag enterprises , Imran Malik said that by taking a look at the history of Kashmir, one can clearly see how water transport has played an important role in ferrying the passengers.
“Just like roads, water route doesn’t require any kind of investment like macadamization and maintenance of the roads,” he said, adding the initiative will also help to promote the tourism in Kashmir.
Accounts manager of the company, Abdul Hanan said that they are hopeful that the water boat transportation will play a role of alternative transport in future as roads are already congested so it can help in reducing the problems of people.
“The boat will start plying from Lasjan Bypass (Jehlum) to Veer Chatabal after our Company will hand over the Boats to the JK government after Satisfactory trial Runs are done,” Hanan said.
