Omar Abdullah Criticizes Srinagar Smart City as Failure, Orders Infrastructure-Focused Urban Survey
By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 16 July 2025
Jammu & Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah delivered a scathing critique of the Srinagar Smart City project, calling it a “cosmetic failure” during his speech at the inauguration of a new 120-bed facility at the Bone and Joint Hospital in Srinagar.
“An hour of rain exposed the truth. I wonder where the funds allocated over the years have gone,”
he stated, referencing recent flooding in core urban areas after moderate rainfall.
His remarks have sparked widespread public discussion, exposing growing dissatisfaction with the performance and priorities of the Smart City initiative in Kashmir’s summer capital.
Waterlogged “Smart City”: What Went Wrong?
Despite years of multi-crore investments under the Smart City Mission, recent showers brought downtown Srinagar to a halt. Reports poured in from residents of Kadikadal, Safakadal, Rajourikadal, and Nowhatta, who experienced waist-deep water in homes and businesses.
Citizen Reports Highlight the Crisis
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Flooded grocery shops
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Overflowing drains near religious sites
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Sewage mixing with stormwater
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Students wading through waterlogged lanes
This urban paralysis exposed the gaps between beautification and basic utility.
Omar’s Critique: Symbolism vs. Substance
In a rare moment of direct criticism of governance, Omar Abdullah took aim at the overemphasis on aesthetics—LED-lit facades, tiled walkways, and vertical gardens—calling them “surface-level” distractions.
“A few tiles and designer lampposts won’t fix broken drainage, dysfunctional hospitals, or underfunded schools,”
he said, drawing a strong line between optics and outcomes.
New Urban Survey Announced
To redirect policy toward functional urbanism, Omar ordered a fresh, ground-level urban survey that will:
Key Focus Areas
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Drainage Mapping & Waterlogging Hotspots
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Using GIS-based flood mapping
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Monitoring runoff channels, blocked culverts, and storm drains
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Healthcare Infrastructure
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Assessing public hospital capacities
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Examining rural-urban access gaps
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Education Facility Accessibility
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Mapping school catchments and dropout zones
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Identifying infrastructure deficits
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Fund Flow & Transparency Audit
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Reviewing how Smart City funds have been allocated and spent
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Enforcing performance-linked budgeting
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From Ceremonial Ribbons to Real Reform
The hospital inauguration provided the context for Omar’s broader policy pivot.
“We didn’t open this hospital for ribbon-cutting. Real success lies in seeing beds occupied, OTs running, and faculty teaching,”
he added, underscoring the need for functional outcomes over ceremonial milestones.
The 120-bed addition to the Bone and Joint Hospital is aimed at easing pressure from orthopedic referrals and long waitlists. It includes:
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6 Modular Operation Theatres
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24×7 Emergency Trauma Support
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Teaching Facilities for Medical Students
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Digitized Patient Record Systems
This facility was described by Omar as a “template for what Smart Services should actually look like.”
Political & Public Reactions
The remarks have reignited debate across the valley, with many supporting Omar’s stand on urban accountability:
Local Sentiment on Social Media
“Finally a leader talking sense. Enough with photo-op projects. We need sewers, not sculptures.” — Twitter/X user @KashmirSane
“Omar just did what every resident of Srinagar wants to scream during the rains!” — Facebook comment on local news livestream
However, opposition critics and a few government spokespersons defended the project:
“It’s unfair to call it a failure. Over 70% of Smart City works are ongoing. Let’s not politicize progress,” — said a senior Urban Development official, requesting anonymity.
Why This Shift Matters: Symbolic Urbanism vs. Functional Cities
Urban experts and civil society activists have long argued that India’s Smart City Mission risks becoming more of a branding exercise than a reform engine.
Expert Insight
“Srinagar’s challenges lie in old sewerage, chaotic zoning, and unregulated urban sprawl. You can’t solve these with just lights and landscape,”
said Dr. Shabir Ahmad, Urban Studies Professor at Kashmir University.
Abdullah’s critique represents a broader shift from symbolic urbanism to grounded governance, rooted in service delivery, utility optimization, and citizen trust.
Where Did the Smart City Funds Go?
Since its launch in 2015, the Srinagar Smart City project has been allocated over ₹980 crore, with work spanning:
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City beautification
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Electric bus service
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Pedestrian-friendly roads
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Heritage site restoration
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IT-based surveillance systems
But Omar’s speech calls for greater transparency on whether these projects have truly enhanced urban resilience, inclusivity, and utility.
The Road Ahead: Next 90 Days Critical
The newly announced urban survey will be conducted by a joint team of:
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J&K Urban Development Department
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Municipal Corporation Officers
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Technical consultants from NIT Srinagar
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Ward-level public feedback mechanisms
Key Goals by October 2025
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City-wide drainage grid digitized
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Quarterly fund utilization report published
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New Smart City framework 2.0 proposed
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Stakeholder roundtables to be hosted in all 8 zones of Srinagar
Conclusion: A Turning Point for Urban Kashmir?
Omar Abdullah’s public censure of the Smart City plan might be just the inflection point Srinagar needed.
Instead of ambitious facades, the demand is now for accessible, durable, citizen-first infrastructure—clean water, working hospitals, reliable drainage, and functional schools.
Srinagar’s future must be built not on tiles, but trust. Not under floodlights, but with foresight.
