Denying dignity

In a city striving to project itself as modern and tourist-friendly, the sight of newly constructed public washrooms lying locked and unusable is both ironic and troubling. In Srinagar, 25 washrooms have been built under the Smart City Mission, yet 10 of them remain non-functional simply due to the absence of electricity connections. These facilities, located at key public places, from Batamaloo and Parimpora bus stands to Shalimar, Harwan and near the Tulip Garden, stand as silent reminders of administrative delays undermining public welfare. Public conveniences are not a luxury; they are a basic necessity tied to dignity, hygiene and urban livability. In a city witnessing increasing tourist inflow and growing local footfall in public spaces, functional washrooms are indispensable. The fact that these structures are complete and even have water connections, yet remain shut due to pending electricity links, reflects a serious lapse in coordination among departments. Such gaps point to a larger issue in urban governance—where infrastructure creation is prioritised over its timely operationalisation. The Smart City Mission was envisaged to improve quality of life through efficient service delivery. However, when completed assets remain unused, it not only wastes public money but also erodes public trust. Voices from the ground echo this concern. Residents rightly question the purpose of investing heavily in facilities that fail to serve their intended use. Delays in making these washrooms functional risk turning them into neglected structures, prone to vandalism and decay. Authorities must act swiftly to bridge this last-mile gap. Ensuring electricity connections is neither complex nor resource-intensive. What is required is urgency and accountability. A city cannot claim to be “smart” if it falters in delivering something as basic as accessible and functional public toilets.