There was a time, not very long ago, when the architecture of Srinagar spoke quietly yet confidently of beauty, balance, and belonging. Take Hari Singh High Street as an example. Once, it presented a uniform and harmonious streetscape, with buildings aligned on both sides in a rhythm that felt almost European in discipline, yet deeply Kashmiri in spirit. The facades were simple but elegant, footpaths were modest yet functional, and everything appeared deliberately aligned—nothing excessive, nothing chaotic. It was architecture that rested the eyes.
Today, the condition of Hari Singh Street market tells a very different story. A few buildings still carry remnants of the old architectural language, but most of the street has become a visual disorder—uneven heights, mismatched facades, conflicting materials, and no sense of continuity. What was once coherent now feels fragmented and uncomfortable to look at.
Under the Smart City initiative, the focus has largely remained on footpaths and lighting. Even there, the approach seems impractical. Oversized footpaths—far wider than required—are now mostly occupied by street vendors, defeating the very purpose of pedestrian ease. Neither walking becomes convenient, nor does the street gain aesthetic value. Development, in this form, becomes cosmetic rather than meaningful.
What should have been done instead is a comprehensive facade transformation of the entire Hari Singh Street market—one uniform design, inspired by traditional Kashmiri architecture, applied consistently across the stretch. This should have been supported by underground electricity ducting, proper sewerage, and a functional, long-lasting drainage system. Planning must aim not for temporary fixes but for infrastructure that serves the city for many decades, if not centuries.
I am not against innovation or modernization. But innovation must be coherent and complementary to Kashmir’s architectural identity. Development should reflect the real soul of the city, not suppress it. For this, the government must impose—and more importantly, implement—strict building codes, planning regulations, and architectural uniformity. If such codes already exist, then their enforcement must be backed by honesty, accountability, and public responsibility.
Before beautification comes groundwork. Srinagar urgently needs complete underground ducting, modern sewerage, and scientifically designed drainage systems—unlike earlier projects that became defunct due to poor planning and execution. Infrastructure must be planned holistically, not in isolated patches.
Similarly, all water bodies in Srinagar must be clearly demarcated and restored, not merely cleaned or beautified for optics. True restoration means reviving their original hydrology and ecology, supported by adequate STPs and modern environmental techniques. This must be followed by strict monitoring, harsh penalties for violations, and regular maintenance—because protection is a continuous responsibility, not a one-time project.
In downtown Srinagar, some heritage markets are undergoing facade improvements, which is a positive step. However, the effort remains limited. Religious institutions, shrines, gates, walls, and heritage structures must be restored and protected in their original form, with professional conservation practices. At the same time, many surrounding markets and residential structures have lost uniformity due to encroachments, hanging wires, narrow lanes, and dysfunctional drainage.
In such areas, mere renovation will not work. What is required is a phased, well-planned reconstruction from the ground up, while carefully preserving heritage structures. Markets and houses should be rebuilt with uniformity, fire-safety systems, modern services, adequate space, and greenery, all integrated seamlessly into traditional Kashmiri architectural forms. The use of paper mâché, khatamband, traditional devari stones, and indigenous craftsmanship must replace excessive concrete tiles and generic materials, so that the authentic quality of Kashmir is preserved.
Downtown Srinagar can also reclaim its historic identity as the “Venice of the East.” Restoring and creating canals is not merely an aesthetic idea; it has real potential for tourism, water transport, and ecological balance. While creating new canals may take time, at the very least, historic waterways like Nallah Mar should be restored to their original form. This is not impossible. Cities like Utrecht in the Netherlands successfully restored canals that were once converted into highways, earning widespread public appreciation.
With thoughtful planning, Srinagar too could integrate canals with elegant bridges, pedestrian connectivity, and shikaras or electric motor boats beneath—supported by strict cleanliness norms, pollution control, and continuous maintenance.
In essence, Srinagar must consciously evolve as two complementary parts of one city. One part should preserve and celebrate the heritage-rich downtown, where historic shrines, markets, lanes, walls, and traditional urban forms are conserved and protected in their original character. The other part should represent a modern Srinagar, but one that still draws its identity from Kashmiri architecture, uniform planning, and contextual design—not glass towers, random high-rises, or imported styles that neither suit the city’s aesthetics nor respect its geography and topography. Both parts must coexist in harmony, reflecting continuity rather than contradiction.
If the government genuinely aims to make Srinagar a smart, vibrant, green, beautiful, and liveable city, it must plan with vision, act with integrity, and build with respect for the soul of Kashmir.
“A truly smart Srinagar is not one that merely looks new—but one that remembers who it is.”

Email:----------------harismashooqharis@gmail.com