Srinagar on Track to Become a Smart City by June 2024: 125 Projects Worth Rs 930 Crore Sanctioned
03-06-2023 : Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir, is on its way to becoming a smart city by June 2024. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has sanctioned a total of 125 projects worth Rs 930 crore under the Smart City Mission, marking a significant step towards the city’s modernization.
According to Srinagar Municipal Commissioner and CEO of Srinagar Smart City Ltd (SSCL), Athar Amir Khan, 56 of the 125 projects, totaling Rs 320 crore, have already been finished. The other 69 projects are still in the planning stages. While some projects are still in the beginning stages, others have reached 80–90% completion. According to Khan, the majority of the ongoing projects will be finished by the end of this year, in December, and the final 16 projects will be finished by June 2024.
Khan expressed his optimism about the transformative impact these smart city projects will have on Srinagar. He highlighted the development of an unprecedented “walking infrastructure” spanning approximately 80 km throughout the city, which includes footpaths and pedestrian lanes crisscrossing various areas.
The smart city projects in Srinagar are categorized under eight themes, such as Jhelum Water Front Development and Water Transport, Urban Mobility Street and Intersection Development, City Beautification and Urban Art, Heritage Conservation and Downtown Renewal, Central Business District Upgradation, Dal Lake Front Conservation, Shalimar Canal Project, Integrated Command and Control Centre HMT, 175 km Srinagar Fibre Optic Internet System, Intelligent Traffic Management System, and Green Srinagar. Khan emphasized the integration and interconnectedness of these projects to ensure a holistic transformation of the entire city.
One notable achievement in Srinagar is the Polo View Market, which has been transformed into the city’s first fully pedestrian and wire-free market. The market boasts universal accessibility, separate underground sewerage and drainage networks, underground electricity and communication lines, improved facades of buildings, and public convenience facilities. The smart city officials are currently working on a comprehensive overhaul of the entire city, aiming to make Srinagar an enchanting destination for tourists from all over the country.
Apart from the Polo View Market, other locations in Srinagar have also undergone significant renovations. The Lal Chowk area, for instance, is undergoing a complete makeover with four ongoing projects, including Lal Chowk precinct, Ghantaghar, Residency Road, and Mecca market. With a budget of Rs 27 crore, the area will be completely transformed, and the renovation work is expected to be completed by mid-July this year.
Khan emphasized that these efforts have resulted in a cleaner, more organized, and easily navigable city, making Srinagar an excellent place to live, work, and visit. The transformation of the Polo View Market serves as a testament to the remarkable progress taking place in Srinagar. With the city’s smart city project in full swing, residents and visitors can anticipate even more exciting developments in the near future.
