Srinagar Smart City Project came up as a welcome initiative to improve the city’s civic amenities in the face of rising population. While what has unrolled so far is, perhaps, not the full spectirm of the planned activities, what is evident is that the outcomes from some of the activities undertaken so far necessitate a serious review. Any infrastructure improvement project in a city with a tourism potential must have this overarching goal – how to make it more livable for its inhabitants and its visitors. Srinagar city is now home to about 1.7 million people, and, sadly, as some of the outcomes from the Smart City Project activities unfold, it is clear the city is not as liveable as it used to be.
The primary reason for that is that the decision to squeeze roads in and around Srinagar’s city center Lal Chowk, which is a major transportation junction, has almost cripped the city’s mobility. Srinagar’s city centre from Batamaloo to Dalgate host the some of the most important public and private institutions of the entire former state. A economic disconnect between urban and rural Kashmir – another unfolding outcome from this congestion – is also likely to impede economic productivity of Kashmir region as a whole, considering the city’s importance to trade and business and the role of the city centre as a primary artery of the city’s mobility.
The cumulative impact of squeezing roads in the city center, therefore, raise questions about the objectives of the Srinagar Smart City Project.
The narrowing of roads, creating walking spaces in Lal Chowk may improve touristic aesthetics of the city centre, but this squeeze in the available road space has severely exacerbated traffic congestion in the city. As the number of vehicles continues to grow, the already congested roads have already lead to increased travel times, frustration among commuters, and reduced productivity. Traffic jams can also impact emergency services and overall transportation efficiency.
The narrowing of roads in the city center, particularly at Lal Chowk, has also translated into a negative effect on local businesses. Reduced accessibility and traffic congestion deter customers from visiting shops, restaurants, and other establishments. This decline in footfall has lead to reduced sales and economic activity, affecting the livelihoods of diverse set of business groups which operate from the city centre.
The narrowed roads have created difficulties for various modes of transportation, including public buses, and emergency vehicles. Limited space has impeded the smooth flow of school buses too, creating a difficult situation for school children and their parents.
Traffic congestion now also contributes to increased air pollution levels which poses health risks for the residents of Srinagar and its visitors. As a result, Srinagar’s tourism USP may not remain as attractive as it is now.
The livability of Srinagar city has been compromised to a large extent today as its transportation mobility is now severely constrained. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach, including measures such as expanding road infrastructure, or at least leave the old road spaces as they were, and improving public transportation systems. It becomes essential for the city planners to strike a balance between tourist aesthetics and the basic mobility needs of the city.
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