Srinagar Smart City Project Faces Corruption Allegations and Quality Concerns
The ambitious Srinagar Smart City Project, aimed at transforming the city’s infrastructure and improving urban life, is under scrutiny following allegations of corruption and substandard work. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu & Kashmir has registered cases against two project officials and is investigating several aspects of the initiative.
Preliminary inquiries have revealed serious irregularities, including the alleged misappropriation of construction materials like Devri Stones, Path Tiles, and Iron Grills. Reliable sources suggest that these materials were either unaccounted for or sold in the open market for personal profit during the project’s beautification and development phases.
Further concerns have been raised about the use of substandard materials in the construction of cycle tracks, footpaths facing Dal Lake, and viewing decks along Foreshore Road and Nishat to Naseem Bagh. Officials and contractors are accused of bypassing mandatory procedures, compromising the quality of work.
Salman Sagar, MLA from Hazratbal and a member of the National Conference, criticized the project’s execution. “This is not a smart city but a shabby city. The work was done hastily, flouting norms. I raised concerns earlier, but they were dismissed. Now, the construction is already deteriorating, with loose stones and poor quality evident everywhere,” he said.
The Srinagar Smart City Project, approved in 2017 with a budget exceeding ₹3,535 crores, is part of the Government of India’s Smart City Mission under the Ministry of Urban Development. Its goal was to implement area-based development and improve urban infrastructure, particularly in roads and transportation.
Two key officials, Chief Financial Officer Sajid Yusuf Bhat and Executive Engineer Zahoor Ahmad Dar, have been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for possessing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. Investigations by the ACB are ongoing, with further inquiries into the project’s management and execution.
The allegations have cast a shadow over the Smart City Mission, a nationwide initiative to enhance the quality of life in 100 selected cities. The case highlights the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and community involvement in such transformative projects.
News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”
