SRINAGAR: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday called for a comprehensive long-term development plan for Srinagar, alleging that successive governments had failed to address the city’s growing civic challenges.
In a statement, Bukhari said a reported shortage of parking space in Downtown Srinagar, which he claimed was affecting local businesses and markets in the old city, reflected broader infrastructure and civic issues confronting the summer capital.
He alleged that Srinagar was facing multiple challenges, including inadequate housing, poor public infrastructure, damaged roads and lanes, insufficient drainage and lack of basic amenities.
Bukhari also expressed concern over drinking water shortages in several parts of the city, claiming that many residents were not receiving an adequate water supply.
Calling for a planned approach to urban development, he said Srinagar required sustained investment, improved infrastructure and a long-term strategy to address its civic deficiencies.
The Apni Party leader alleged that successive governments had allowed the historic city to “drift without a clear direction” and urged the present government to undertake a comprehensive programme to upgrade and modernise Srinagar’s infrastructure.
Bukhari said the city, which serves as a major social, cultural and economic centre of Jammu and Kashmir, should be prioritised for development and provision of basic civic amenities.
