Kashmir in Transition: From Struggles to Smart Streets

Development is not just about shiny buildings or digital screens—it is about making everyday life smoother, safer, and more dignified for everyone.

- SHAFIYA SHOWKAT

In cities, especially those that are expanding rapidly, development becomes essential. Roads that can withstand changing weather, parking systems that reduce chaos, traffic rules that ensure safety, and the Smart City concept that brings technology closer to public service—all these are signs of a city growing in the right direction. Yet, change is rarely welcomed with open arms. People often resist it—not because they don't want progress, but because change usually brings discomfort at first. When roads are dug up for repairs or new flyovers are being built, daily routines get disturbed. Traffic gets worse before it gets better. New parking rules feel confusing. Smart city plans sometimes seem too complicated or take longer than expected to show results. All of this makes people question whether the change is even worth it. But the truth is, without short-term discomfort, long-term improvement is impossible. Every strong building needs a messy construction phase. In the same way, for cities to become better places to live, work, and move around in, some level of disturbance is natural. What matters is patience and trust in the process. Development is not something to be feared or delayed—it is something to be understood, supported, and embraced, because its benefits reach everyone, especially the common people who depend most on public infrastructure.

Before 2019, the urban setup in Kashmir—especially in places like Srinagar—carried the weight of years of slow and scattered development. The roads told the story best. Many of them were narrow, broken, and full of potholes. Even in main areas, it wasn't uncommon to find stretches that felt more like obstacle courses than proper roads. In the inner parts of the city and far-off neighborhoods, some roads were still kutcha, and others would fall apart every time it rained or snowed. Just when something would get repaired, another department would dig it up again. And so the cycle went on.