Incessant rains in Srinagar on Monday once again turned several localities into huge pools of water exposing the faulty drainage system. The roads looked like rivulets and water seeped into homes and shops. It was complete flood-like situation with manholes overflowing and roads flooded. As people of the city are enraged and have been constantly complaining about the faulty drainage system across this capital city, making big statements about the Smart City Project, authorities, on the issue of drainage system are maintaining a criminal silence. Fact of the matter is that given the poor drainage, it doesn’t need Jehlum to swell and threaten the city, if rains continue for a few days, the faulty drainage system is enough to flood the entire Srinagar.
The much-publicized Srinagar Smart City project that was launched in 2017, but got a push only after 2019. People had high hopes about it as they were promised better roads, better drainage and sewage, open spaces, parking slots and much more. It is August 2025, and a slight drizzle turns the city into a lake. The basic aim of the project was to transform Srinagar into a modern, eco-friendly urban hub through infrastructural upgrades, improved public services etc. But the reality on the ground indicates that instead of doing what the project was expected to do, those assigned with the job only concentrated on cosmetic upgrades for photo-ops. The waterlogging has exposed severe deficiencies in city’s drainage system which is the biggest failure of the Smart City Project. Locals of these areas claimed that they had never witnessed such waterlogging before and not even during 2014 floods. The drainage system is inadequate with chocked drains and overflowing manholes always threatening a flood like situation whenever there is a drizzle. It can be said without any fear of contradiction that this project has failed to achieve what it was supposed to.
Cosmetics upgrades are ok, you beautified Lal Chowk, made it colourful and thus a selfie point but hen a slight drizzle turns this selfie point into a cesspool, what arguments you have to defend the allegations that you have failed in your mission. This is the question that every resident of Srinagar is posing to those officers and officials involved in Smart City project and also to SMC authorities. Same is true about Polo View. The new look of Polo View was inaugurated with much pomp and show and the other day, it was presenting the ugliest look with dirty water of drains seeping into the shops around.
As the project is already marred by allegations of corruption and the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is investigating the senior officers of Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL), the government of the day should ensure that the investigation is speeded up and those who have indulged in unfair means at the cost of the very wellbeing of Srinagar city, face the law. While ACB should speed up its investigation, the government and civic authorities should pull their socks and see how the drainage system could be corrected. It is a major issue that Srinagar city is face to face with and government can’t remain a silent spectator. The government has to take corrective measures to save the city.