Srinagar, Sep 14: Srinagar continues to see extensive road repair and macadamization works, with the Srinagar Municipal Corporation issuing fresh tenders for pothole restoration and resurfacing across several parts of the city even as the government-ordered third-party audit of the Srinagar Smart City project has brought the execution and outcome of major urban works under scrutiny.

The official J&K e-procurement portal shows multiple City Roads Division tenders issued in September for macadamization, road-surface improvement and pothole restoration. One current tender specifically concerns the “Repairment / Restoration of Pot Holes” on links from Qammerwari towards Parimpora Chowk, while other tenders cover road works in Mehjoor Nagar, Lal Bazar, Chanapora, Natipora, Sonwar, Budshah Nagar, Pantha Chowk and several other areas.
The repeated road works have also coincided with government action over alleged quality deficiencies. In February, the J&K government suspended Srinagar Municipal Corporation In-charge Executive Engineer (Civil) Er. Imtiaz Ahmad and ordered a departmental inquiry into allegations concerning the quality of macadamization and other developmental works executed by the SMC City Roads Division over the preceding two years.
According to the government order reported at the time, the inquiry was tasked with examining the quality of construction and materials used in the road works. The officer was placed under suspension and attached to the office of the Chief Engineer, Public Works (R&B), Zone North, Kashmir.
Separately, the J&K government ordered an independent third-party audit of the Srinagar Smart City Limited project following concerns over its implementation and outcomes. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in June.
The audit assumes significance amid continuing complaints over waterlogging, traffic congestion and other urban infrastructure problems in Srinagar. The government has indicated that the review will examine what was delivered against the original project proposals.
During the heavy rainfall and subsequent waterlogging in July, Omar Abdullah said the episode had exposed shortcomings in the city’s drainage infrastructure. He said the proposed audit would examine whether Smart City works matched the original Detailed Project Reports, whether funds were utilized properly and whether construction quality met prescribed standards.
The Smart City Limited has, however, disputed attempts to attribute all waterlogging problems in Srinagar to its works, saying several affected roads and drainage networks were outside the scope of the Smart City project.
Against this backdrop, the continuing issuance of tenders for pothole restoration, resurfacing and fresh macadamization has placed the condition and durability of Srinagar’s roads among the issues likely to attract greater public attention as the government reviews major urban infrastructure works.