Srinagar, June 23: The Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) has urgently appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene in the delayed Smart City project in Srinagar, citing severe economic impacts on local businesses and significant inconvenience to the general public.
The plea comes amidst growing frustration over prolonged construction works that have disrupted normal life and commerce in the city.
In a strongly worded statement, KTA President Aijaz Shahdhar expressed deep concern over the sluggish pace of the Smart City project implementation. Shahdhar highlighted a glaring discrepancy between official statements and ground realities, stating, “Despite repeatedly raising the issue of work pace on Smart City projects across Srinagar, the problems acknowledged by officials do not align with the actual progress visible on the ground.”
The KTA president pointed out a pattern of missed deadlines plaguing various development projects in Kashmir. “Several deadlines have passed for various development projects in Kashmir, yet what we hear is another deadline,” Shahdhar remarked.
He emphasized the urgent need for accelerated action, suggesting, “It is high time that the administration should start work on these projects on double shifts to complete them within the stipulated time.”