“Tacky” ideas for Srinagar smart city project draw flak from J&K parties

Renovation work begins at historic Ghanta Ghar, Lal Chowk, beneath the smart city project forward of G20 assembly in Srinagar on April 04, 2023. File
| Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD

There is rising criticism among the many regional parties over the “poor ideation” and “tacky material” used for the ₹980-crore Smart City Project in Srinagar, because it nears completion within the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir.

Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday identified the poor materials used for tiles. “Traditional and heritage style of architecture and planning is being replaced by hideous tiles seen in public toilets. Sad to see beautiful ‘divar’ stones demolished to make way for tacky and distasteful planning. Urban landscaping can be done without destroying our traditional aesthetics,” Ms. Mufti stated.

Highlighting the excavations within the city, Ms. Mufti stated, “Half of Srinagar is excavated for a ‘Smart City’ by reducing motorable roads to increase pedestrian paths, which isn’t just causing a harrowing inconvenience, but also comes at the cost of aesthetics.”

The injury carried out to chinars, which granted character of an avenue to the city streets, has additionally come beneath extreme criticism.

“Is Srinagar city being ‘smartened’ with this blatant chopping of chinars? These green monuments are the script of our past and future. Everything that defines Kashmir is being erased. Why this obsession with ‘changing the face’ of Kashmir,” National Conference (NC) spokesman Imran Nabi Dar stated.

Earlier, J&Okay Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari additionally criticised the project. “The project is being completed with the upcoming G20 meeting in mind. The carriageway has been reduced without consulting people or experts. The project doesn’t seem to be ideated for the people of Kashmir. We don’t know who the people behind it are and what their expertise is,” Mr. Bukhari stated.

The project goals to construct pedestrian pathways, markets, biking tracks and smart visitors regulation. The thrust areas have been on smart street-lighting; multi-level parking; sports activities infrastructure; water transport system within the Jhelum river; set up of decorative LED lighting round Dal lake; pedestrian walkways and footpath; and riverbank growth.