Srinagar Smart City Mission Under Audit As Rs 1,579 Crore in Projects Remain Pending

SRINAGAR, Kashmir — The Central Government's Smart Cities Mission in Srinagar, which includes completed redevelopments in Lal Chowk, has been ordered for an independent third-party audit after failing to fully resolve the city's persistent civic issues. With 82 projects worth Rs 1,579.01 crore still unfinished ahead of the extended March 2025 deadline, residents continue to face severe flooding, traffic congestion, and prolonged disruptions.

Initiated in 2017 under the program's third round, the project was approved at an estimated cost of Rs 3,634 crore. It envisaged a modern, technology-driven city with improved mobility, upgraded drainage, heritage conservation, intelligent traffic management, and better public spaces. Official data reveals that 185 projects worth Rs 4,154.96 crore have been sanctioned under the mission so far.

Of these sanctioned works, 103 projects valued at Rs 2,575.95 crore have been completed, while 82 projects remain under implementation. To facilitate the completion of these pending works, the Central Government extended the Smart Cities Mission deadline to March 2025.

While the mission has delivered visible upgrades like pedestrian-friendly streets, electric buses, cycle tracks, an Integrated Command and Control Centre, and riverfront promenades, many chronic problems persist. Recent rainfall left several localities waterlogged, reviving criticism of the city's storm-water drainage. Residents also continue to complain of repeated road excavations by multiple agencies, inadequate parking, and severe traffic bottlenecks during peak tourist seasons.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently reviewed the program and acknowledged significant shortcomings in its planning, execution, and budgeting. He stated that despite the huge expenditure incurred, the project may not have achieved its original objectives. He cited prolonged construction and poor coordination among executing agencies as major causes of public inconvenience.

In response, the government ordered an independent third-party audit to examine whether works executed by Srinagar Smart City Limited conform to approved designs, assess their quality, and determine if public funds delivered the intended outcomes.

Questions have also arisen regarding the maintenance of completed assets. Social activist Sanjay Sapru recently highlighted the neglect of the Jhelum Riverfront at Rajbagh, sharing evidence of garbage, damaged landscaping, broken signboards, and exposed electrical wires on the flagship promenade.