Narrow roads, wide footpaths: Srinagar’s Smart City planning under scrutiny

Srinagar, Nov 3: Questions over road space, traffic congestion and the durability of urban infrastructure have resurfaced again in Srinagar, where stretches developed under the Smart City Project are facing criticism over narrowed carriageways, widened footpaths and the dismantling of recently completed pedestrian works.
The concerns have gained fresh attention after sections of the pedestrian walkway at Jehangir Chowk were dismantled and reworked recently, with tiles removed and stacked beside the road. The reason for the latest intervention has not been officially explained.
The issue has also drawn political criticism. National Conference spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq described the Smart City Project as ill-conceived, arguing that roads in Downtown Srinagar had been narrowed while footpaths were widened without adequate planning.
“Using tiles does not make a city smart,” Sadiq said while questioning the planning approach and stressing the need for functional drainage and sewerage infrastructure.
The concerns are not limited to political criticism. Commuters have reported persistent congestion on key stretches, including Maulana Azad Road and Residency Road, where traffic movement has remained slow despite road upgrades.
A trader, Zahoor Ahmad described the difficulty of reaching his shop in Lal Chowk amid recurring traffic congestion, saying he had switched from using a car to a scooter, but even that had become difficult because of limited road space.
The repeated reworking of completed infrastructure, has raised questions about planning, coordination between agencies, project supervision and the public cost of dismantling and rebuilding works.
People are left seeking clarity on whether the changes are part of a planned redesign, a response to traffic problems, or corrections to earlier execution. [KNT]