The Srinagar Smart City project, part of India's ambitious Smart City Mission, was envisioned as a transformative initiative to modernize infrastructure, promote sustainability, empower local communities, and boost tourism. However, its unfolding has highlighted significant challenges, raising serious questions about execution, transparency, and alignment with residents’ needs.

Challenges and Concerns

One of the core objectives of the project was infrastructure improvement, including the development of roads, utilities, and parking facilities, alongside intelligent traffic management systems to ease congestion. Yet, in practice, many residents have voiced frustration. Instead of easing traffic woes, the expansion of footpaths in areas such as Lal Chowk to Nishat Garden, Ghanta Ghar Lal Chowk to Polo View Market, TRC to Pantha Chowk, Zaina Kadal interior areas, Chowk near Bud Shash Tomb to Nalla Mar Road, Batamaloo to Bemina Crossing, and Ram Bagh to Azad Basti Natipora has led to daily traffic bottlenecks, severely disrupting connectivity and everyday life.
Residents have particularly criticized the introduction of bicycles for pedestrians—a move widely seen as impractical, given Srinagar's narrow roads and harsh weather conditions. This initiative has largely turned into a symbol of misplaced priorities. Additionally, the one-way traffic arrangements during peak tourist seasons, such as the Tulip Garden season, have resulted in long diversions and made life increasingly difficult for locals, further diminishing public trust in the project’s management.
Flooding during winters and rainy days in areas like Jehangir Chowk, Sarai Balla, and Lal Chowk continues to highlight inadequacies in the drainage system, throwing normal life out of gear. These issues, compounded by poor planning, were exposed even during scant snowfall in recent years, leaving residents in disarray.
In Maharaj Bazar, shopkeepers and residents reported that the drainage system collapsed soon after the road was opened to the public. When concerns were raised about substandard execution, contractors allegedly responded with threats, creating an atmosphere of fear and silencing dissent. This lack of accountability and transparency has further eroded confidence in the project.

A Missed Opportunity

Before the devastating 2014 floods, a beautification program of the River Jehlum banks was initiated under the leadership of the then Central Minister for Environment, Mr. Saif Ul Din Soze. While the program aimed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the riverfront, its execution resulted in the shrinkage of the river's breadth and bed level, directly contributing to the havoc caused by the floods. The funds spent on this program were effectively rendered wasted, as the measures taken failed to prepare the city for such disasters.
Following the 2014 calamity, it was widely recognized that increasing the width and depth of the Jehlum was essential to mitigate future flooding risks. Yet, instead of adopting sustainable and disaster-resilient practices, the river has been further squeezed between Lal Mandi and Zero Bridge. Recreational parks and walkways now occupy the top of the riverbanks, showcasing a misguided focus on beautification rather than addressing Srinagar’s pressing environmental and infrastructural needs.
This unmindful approach continues to ignore the city's vulnerability to inevitable flooding, ensuring that the money spent will likely prove wasted sooner or later, with just one surge of gushing waters. The Jehlum banks, with the right sustainable engineering and planning, could serve as both a center of attraction and a viable road option from its source to Khadniyar. However, the same flawed practices from the past have been carried forward, raising serious concerns about the foresight and sustainability of the Smart City initiative.
The situation is further complicated by allegations of corruption. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) initiated investigations into the project's execution, focusing on substandard materials and misappropriation of funds. However, suspicions arose following the sudden transfer of officers leading these investigations. Critics, including former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, condemned these transfers as punitive actions against whistleblowers. Residents, fearing repercussions, remain hesitant to voice their concerns, deepening the public’s skepticism about the project’s intentions.

Lessons from the Past

Shopkeepers and residents in Lal Chowk point to past projects as cautionary tales. For instance, the conversion of the open space between Ghantaghar and Palladium Gali into a park during the Omar Abdullah government was dismantled years later under the Smart City initiative. Such cycles of redevelopment, involving massive expenditures, have fueled allegations of financial mismanagement, with many believing these projects serve more to withdraw funds than to genuinely improve the city. An elderly resident poignantly summarized this sentiment with a Persian couplet:
"Har ki aamad amarat i nov sakht.
Raft w manzil be diegaray pardakht."
(Whoever came, built a new building.
Left, and handed over the task to another.

A Vision for the Future

The Srinagar Smart City project has immense potential to transform the city but must start by addressing the pressing concerns of its residents. Transparency in governance, community engagement, and localized urban planning are paramount. To achieve meaningful change, the project could draw inspiration from successful models in similar environments:
- Localized Urban Solutions: Replacing impractical initiatives like bicycles with robust public transportation systems and addressing traffic congestion through innovative road designs that respect the city’s unique layout and needs.
Heritage Conservation: Preserving iconic landmarks such as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh to maintain cultural identity while attracting responsible tourism.
Sustainable Urban Design: Incorporating green spaces that enhance the city's aesthetics and contribute to environmental health, while ensuring resilience against

Challenges like Flooding

By genuinely involving Srinagar’s residents in the planning and execution process, and adopting a "think globally, act locally" approach tailored to the city’s fragile environment, the project can begin to rebuild public trust. Only by prioritizing the well-being of its citizens and ensuring accountability can the Smart City initiative live up to its promise of creating a sustainable, vibrant urban hub that honors the spirit of Kashmir.

Email:---------------------shamshadkralwari@gmail.com