Srinagar: The markets in Srinagar will soon resemble the ones in metro cities, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Friday after he inaugurated a market under the smart city project.
“The Poloview Market has been redesigned under the Smart City project. The electric wires and telecom fiber have all been laid underground. The market can be kept open even during the night,” Sinha told reporters.
Known for handicrafts and handloom products, the shopping centre has been transformed into a premium pedestrian market by Srinagar Smart City Limited.
Sinha said the locals face some difficulties wherever infrastructure projects are taken up but the traders cooperated with the authorities.
“I express gratitude to the traders who cooperated. I am sure it will increase the business here,” he said.
“Poloview in the heart of Srinagar has been transformed into a pedestrian-oriented high street that will attract more footfall, increase in retail sale, improve the experience of visitors and it will make the area more liveable,” said the LG.
“This is just a start and in the days to come, the smart city project will develop many such markets at Residency Road, Lal Chowk and the old city areas,” the LG said.
“The endeavour to make Srinagar look like Delhi or Chandigarh or other big cities is on. The people who have come here would have felt that they were in Delhi or Mumbai and not in Srinagar. You will get to see many more markets like this in the coming days,” Sinha added.
Other than the Poloview market, the LG also inaugurated two other Srinagar Smart City Projects and 25 Urban Local Bodies (ULB) projects.
The two smart city projects include Abi Guzar Shiv temple, which has been renovated and dedicated to the people and smart advanced traffic management vehicles that have been included in the fleet for Srinagar Smart City.
Of the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) projects dedicated to the public, 16 are development projects in 11 ULBs and nine solid waste management facilities in 10 ULBs, an official press release informed.
The LG said these projects will significantly boost urban infrastructure and give an impetus to ease of living.
“The holistic approach in developing urban infrastructure is focused on individual’s well-being, new avenues and opportunities for the people for more diversified incomes, improved service delivery, mobility, cleanliness and to achieve the objectives of sustainable urban development,” Sinha said.
The LG also highlighted the steps taken to fulfill the aspirations of all 40 ULBs of Kashmir division.
“We have put people at the centre of cities and the projects both development and solid waste management, are offering unprecedented opportunities to improve the lives of millions of urban residents,” he said.
“The newly inaugurated projects are the testimony to our commitment to improve the urban environment,” he added.
Speaking on the development journey of J&K over the past few years, the LG expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “unparalleled growth” of the UT.
“Today, economic development is gaining new momentum, pace of completion of projects has increased nine times and every section of the society is feeling empowered,” said the LG.
Citizens are now co-constructing policies so that infrastructure projects are developed as per needs of the people, he added.
The LG called upon the elected representatives of the ULBs and the common people to work shoulder to shoulder with the administration in the mission to rejuvenate the cities and make them more vibrant, efficient, clean and sustainable.
“Infrastructure should become a strong base to improve the quality of life of every citizen. We must ensure that infrastructure development meets the needs of the 21st century and reflect the priceless heritage & traditions of our cities,” the LG said.
He further emphasized on encouraging maximum public participation in beautification of cities and swachhata campaigns.
Bicycle sharing facilities for different locations in the city were also inaugurated on the occasion by the LG, the press release said.
It said H Rajesh Prasad, Principal Secretary Housing & Urban Development Department gave a detailed overview of the projects inaugurated today.
Mathora Masoom, Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir informed about the ongoing projects for the development of urban areas of the region.
Junaid Azim Mattu, Mayor SMC; Vijay Kumar, ADGP Kashmir; Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Athar Amir Khan, Commissioner SMC and CEO Srinagar Smart City; ULB members, senior officials and prominent citizens were present.
