Smart City project not to blame for Srinagar traffic chaos: Govt

Jammu, Mar 15: Amid mounting concerns over the implementation of the Smart City Project in Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday categorically denied that the project has exacerbated traffic congestion or created bottlenecks in key areas of the city.
The clarification came in response to a starred question raised by MLA Zadibal Tanveer Sadiq, regarding the severe traffic issues faced by residents and the business community in Srinagar, particularly in commercial hubs like Lal Chowk and Jehangir Chowk.
In its reply, the government acknowledged that traffic congestion in Srinagar has been a persistent issue, causing difficulties for daily commuters, emergency service vehicles, and businesses.
However, it firmly rejected the claim that the narrowing of Maulana Azad Road under the Smart City Project has worsened the situation. “No sir,” the government stated, refuting the allegation that the project has led to chaos in key areas.
To address the ongoing traffic crisis, the government revealed a proposal for the construction of a Vehicular Overpass (VOP) bridge or flyover from Convent School (Joggers Park) to M.A. Link Road via Shenwari Road over the Jhelum River is under examination by the Public Works (R&B) Department. This project is expected to provide both immediate and long-term relief to the city’s traffic woes.
Additionally, the government confirmed that a feasibility study for constructing a parallel flyover along Maulana Azad Road, extending from Dalgate to Jehangir Chowk, has been completed. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for this long-term solution is currently under appraisal. If approved, the flyover could significantly alleviate traffic congestion in one of Srinagar’s busiest corridors.
Interestingly, on February 25 this year, Tanvir had termed the Smart City as “Smart City Failure”. “We had identified the flaws early on and even organised a press conference to address them. The project was rushed, and the timeline provided for such extensive infrastructure projects, such as roads and buildings, was unattainable. Now, we are witnessing the consequences as substandard construction is being revealed. From the beginning, we could discern the poor quality of work in the Srinagar Smart City project. Today, our apprehensions have been validated,” Tanvir told reporters last month. (KNO)