Inordinate delay hits completion of Downtown revitalisation project

Srinagar, Nov 30: Downtown revitalisation project under the Srinagar Smart City Mission is facing inordinate delays, with officials now aiming for completion of works by June 2024.

The snail-paced progress has caused widespread discontent among residents, who are dismayed by the persistent poor condition of roads and the lack of progress on other key projects.
Despite the ambitious Smart City label, the streets of Downtown Srinagar, including major thoroughfares like Khayam road and Nowpora - Khanyar stretch, remains in a deplorable state, with potholes and uneven
surfaces posing a daily hazard for pedestrians, particularly children.

“The so-called Smart City tag seems like a farce. Our children are forced to navigate through hazardous potholes every day, and the winter only compounds their struggles,” said a resident of Downtown Srinagar.
The lengthy delays in the Downtown revitalization project have fuelled growing frustration among locals who had eagerly anticipated a swift transformation of their neighborhood.
Many key projects, including the upgradation of heritage markets, improvement of Jhelum ghats, façade enhancement of heritage markets, redevelopment of the Shalimar Canal and Nishat Bagh precincts, lakefront
development, and the creation of cycle tracks and walkways, remain in limbo.

The facade upgradation of heritage markets at Zaina Kadal and Maharaj Gunj, another major initiative under the Smart City Mission, has also been hampered by delays.
Chief Engineer, Smart City Limited, Iftikhar Kakroo told Greater Kashmir that the Downtown project will be completed till June 2024 next year.

“We have also allotted the work on the streets of downtown areas. We have divided it in sections A, B and C. A and B sections will also be started. We have also started facade improvement at Maharaj Gunj
area,” he said.

Kakroo said that there will be a street redevelopment, facade improvement, storm water drainage, illumination, construction of footpaths, sewerage arrangements done inside the Downtown areas.
“Also, we will renovate road surfaces. Besides, we have a separate project of facade improvement for heritage markets. All the heritage markets in Downtown will have a comprehensive facade improvement,” he said.