Smart and Sustainable Moving Slowly towards Sustainable Transport in Kashmir

In Kashmir, sustainable transport is gradually gaining traction as residents embrace electric vehicles and cycling.

- Athar Parvaiz

Electric two-wheelers have surged in popularity, offering commuters a cheaper, faster, and eco-friendly alternative amid soaring fuel prices. The introduction of 100 electric buses in Srinagar has also improved public mobility, providing dependable and extended-hour service. Meanwhile, cycling has reemerged as both a fitness trend and a practical commuting option, supported by new cycle tracks under the Srinagar Smart City initiative—marking a steady shift towards greener, healthier, and more people-friendly transport,

Rafiq Ahmad, a government employee who travels from Lawaypora in western Srinagar to his office in Central Srinagar was fed up with driving his car daily to his office and getting stuck in traffic jams. But, it has been more than a year since he has saved himself that discomfort with his decision to switch over to an electric two-wheeler.

"Traffic jams would usually waste my time, in fact a lot of time, during the commute. On certain occasions, it took me nearly an hour and a half to cover just 13 kilometres from my home to the office," Ahmad says and adds that going to his office on his electric two-wheeler also means saving money which would go into buying fuel for his car. "Although charging my two-wheeler’s battery takes some effort, the savings in both time and cost make it worth it," says Ahmad.

According to him, some of his co-workers have also opted for the electric two-wheelers for saving time and money. The sales of electric two-wheelers (and also electric three-wheelers) have been constantly witnessing a sharp increase in their uptake. But, it is mainly the popularity of two-wheelers which is skyrocketing.