7 years on, Srinagar’s Mini Secretariat stuck at foundation

Srinagar, Oct 6: What was once billed as a landmark project to streamline governance in Kashmir has turned into a glaring reminder of official apathy! The proposed Mini Secretariat at Batamaloo, launched with much fanfare in 2018, remains frozen at the foundation stage even as costs spiral out of control.

In 2018, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti electronically laid the foundation stone of the ambitious Mini Secretariat complex at Batamaloo. The project was envisioned to house multiple government departments under one roof, streamlining administrative operations and improving public service delivery in Srinagar. Designed as a modern facility equipped with citizen-friendly amenities, the Mini Secretariat was seen as a step toward decentralizing governance and making government offices more accessible to the public.

Originally sanctioned at Rs 48.23 crore, the project is now expected to cost over ₹80 crore, with a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) awaiting clearance. The 114-kanal complex was supposed to house 50 government departments under one roof, easing public access and reducing bureaucratic red tape.

Instead, all that stands at the site is the pile foundation laid years ago. A senior Roads & Buildings (R&B) department official, wishing anonymity, blamed erratic funding and lack of administrative urgency for the prolonged delay. “Funds were released in bits and pieces, which crippled execution. In eight years, material and labor costs have nearly doubled. Without steady financing and political backing, such projects inevitably stall,” the official said.

He pointed out that only an elected government could provide the consistent push needed. “These projects need policy continuity. An elected dispensation can prioritize and ensure steady releases, which a caretaker setup often cannot,” he remarked.

The decision to build the complex at Batamaloo had itself triggered controversy, as the area’s 62-year-old bus terminal was shifted to Parimpora, displacing hundreds of shopkeepers and vendors. “We lost our livelihood for nothing. They promised development, but seven years later, the site is still barren,” said Bashir Ahmad, a trader affected by the relocation.

As envisioned, the Mini Secretariat was to feature modern amenities — basement parking for 80 vehicles, landscaped gardens, food courts, meeting halls, elevators, and surveillance systems. It was also meant to accommodate offices earmarked for relocation under Srinagar’s 2035 Master Plan.

But with no visible progress and costs ballooning, the project today reflects a pattern familiar in Kashmir: ambitious announcements that falter in execution. Observers warn that unless timelines are enforced and funds released in bulk, the Mini Secretariat risks being remembered as yet another casualty of delay.