Srinagar city will become a smart city by June 2024. A total 125 projects worth Rs 930 crore has been sanctioned under the Smart City Mission under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Athar Amir Khan, CEO, Srinagar Smart City Ltd (SSCL) and Srinagar Municipal Commissioner, said that out of the 125 projects, 56 projects worth Rs 320 crore has been completed, rest of the 69 projects are under execution. Some of the projects have progressed 80-90 per cent while some are at initial stages. “Most of the projects will be completed by December end of this year. Around 16 projects which are under execution will be completed by June 2024,” Khan said.
Khan said, “Our sense is that we will see major transformation in Srinagar city once the smart city projects are completed. We are developing ‘walking infrastructure’ of around 80 km in the city which is absolutely unprecedented.” There will be foot paths and pedestrian lanes crisscrossed all over the city.
Under smart city mission, projects have 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, Green Srinagar are the broad themes the SSCL are working upon. “All the projects are integrated and interconnected together so that we can transform entire Srinagar city,” Khan said.
The transformation of the Polo View Market is just one example of the great things that are happening in Srinagar. With the city’s Smart City project in full swing, there are sure to be many more exciting developments in the near future.
