Smart City Project: 82 projects in Srinagar still incomplete, 35 completed

Srinagar, Apr 29: At least 82 projects under Smart City Mission are incomplete in Kashmir capital Srinagar.
To develop Srinagar into a Smart City, the Office of Srinagar Smart City Limited has received a total grant of Rs 321.4 crores.
The data shows that a total budget of Rs 194 crores has been received from Central Government under Smart City Mission while a budget of Rs 127.4 crores from the Jammu Kashmir Government under Smart City Mission.
Despite having a whooping budget only 28 employees are on roll, who have been appointed by Srinagar Smart City Limited.
This information has been provided by Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) in response to an application filed by senior social activist MM Shuja under Right to Information Act.
SSCL has not provided the names of advisors and consultants appointed for the smart city project claiming that it is personal in nature and would cause an unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individuals.
Administrative approval of Rs. 322.13 Crores has been given to various departments under Smart City in Srinagar for the execution of different works.
The data reveals that only 35 projects have been completed so far and work on 82 projects are either pending or in progress.
“The period of completion varies from project to project,” SSCL has said.
SSCL has said that different stakeholders are taken on board and regular quarterly meetings are being conducted in order to discuss the various projects under Smart City Mission and to seek their inputs and suggestions. “These meetings are termed as Srinagar Smart City Advisory Forum meetings where the stakeholders including traders, Scientists, Consultants, Social Activists, environmentalists, journalists, educationists, engineers etc are invited on a regular basis.
SSCL has said that funds have been provided only for new works and no funds have been allocated for repair or maintenance of drainage, drinking water supply, street lights and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
It has further claimed that no Chinar tree has been chopped off during the execution of projects under Smart City. However, the lopping of the Chinar trees has been done by the Revenue Department as per the need in the Smart City projects.
It has further informed that no STP has so far been constructed under Smart City. However, sewer lines and drainage lines have been laid in Residency Road, M.A. Road, Lal Chowk, Poloview, Batamaloo- Qamerwari Road, Batamaloo Mominabad Road, etc.