J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Saturday conducted a whirlwind tour of Srinagar city to personally assess the progress of several smart city projects currently underway.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Chief Executive Officer of Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL), Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, SSP Srinagar, SP City Traffic, VC LCMA, MD KPDCL, besides other concerned officers from civil and police administration accompanied the Chief Secretary.

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Dulloo visited several locations in the Civil Lines area of the city, including Boulevard Road and Mughal Garden precincts, currently being upgraded by SSCL. He reviewed the proportion of works completed, so far, besides taking stock of remaining works to be completed within the set timeframe.

He maintained that these works, being done in the busiest parts of the city, need to be completed in the least possible timeframe. He emphasised close monitoring of these works by the senior functionaries of SSCL to ensure the quality and timely completion of these vital projects. He inquired about the utility of each of these ongoing works and their impact on the tourism and social aspects of the city.

The prominent projects that were visited by the Chief Secretary included the development of the Pedestrian Walkway and Cycle Track along Nishat Sathu, Dal Lakefront development along Northern Foreshore Road, improvement and upgradation of Shalimar Canal, improvement and upgradation of Nishat Bagh Precinct, upgradation of Jehangir Chowk Junction and construction of Balidan Stambh at Pratap Park.

At Nishat Sathu, CEO SSCL, Owais Ahmad, informed the Chief Secretary that it is a 2-km-long pedestrian walkway and cycling corridor having plazas with gazebos and seating steps towards the lake waters beside a cycle docking station and utility rationalisation in the area with improvement in the drainage system.

While visiting Lakefront along Northern Foreshore Road, Dulloo was apprised that the project features a 5.10-km-long dedicated two-way cycle track having a wide pedestrian walkway, tactile flooring for specially-abled, kerb ramps for universal access, seating spaces and bollards, high-quality illumination besides other unique amenities for the visitors likely to be completed in the month of May 2024.

At Shalimar Canal, the CS was informed that nearly 70 per cent work has been completed and the project is slated to be handed over in June. It was added that the project work constitutes improvement of Shalimar Bagh frontage, visitor amenities, improvement of canal edges, seating and planters along the canal, wooden arch bridges for pedestrians, cafeterias and restaurants near Foreshore Road, new visitor zone with viewing tower at Dal Lake besides other facilities.

The Chief Secretary also visited Nishat Bagh precinct which was said to be 70 per cent complete and likely to be handed over for public use by June this year.

At the Jehangir Chowk Junction improvement site, it was informed that 60 per cent work has been completed on the project till now and is set to be completed within the deadline of June itself.

The Chief Secretary, during his visit to Balidan Stambh being constructed inside Pratap Park, Lal Chowk, was apprised that 60 per cent work has been completed on the project with most of the underground electrification works already taken up by the executing agency. He was informed that the project included creation of candle sculptures as symbol of peace and remembrance, monumental scale cental stambh and plaque flanked with the LED screens on both sides to display names of the martyrs. The project is likely to be completed by June this year with raising of amphitheatre steps, park development, and placemaking besides the creation of utilities like electrical lighting and horticulture works for beautification in addition to other envisaged works.