Srinagar- Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinah Monday said that with peace gradually becoming a permanent feature in Jammu and Kashmir, from Vitasta to Ganga, Shahr-e-Khas to Banaras and from Lal Chowk to Lal Qila, there is just one heart beat and one thinking.
Addressing a gathering at historic Lal Chowk, after dedicating the three major projects of smart city—Redevelopment of Residency Road, Redevelopment of Srinagar Square, and Redevelopment of Clock Tower, to people of UT, the LG said that today there is just one goal and one desire i.e. peace.
“Srinagar has emerged as a role model in Urban Transformation with Srinagar Smart City Ltd offering smart solutions to enable better urban life, lively nightlife scene, stunning revamped market, riverfront and access to seamless city services,” the Lt Governor said.
Smart development of iconic locations for a smarter future of Srinagar will make it a city with best quality of life for the citizens and tourists, he added.
“From Vitasta to Ganga, Shahr-e-Khas to Banaras and from Lal Chowk to Lal Qila, there is one heartbeat and one thinking,” the LG said. He said that some people had made “conflict as an industry and enjoyed conflict profiteering.” “Today they are seeing the crumbling shadow of terror across the border,” he said. “They are witnessing the fall of the terror-eco system and separatism. They are watching the dreams of common citizens of J&K getting fulfilled.”
He said that due to personal benefits, development in J&K remained choked. “These people were assigned the charge of enforcing hartals, bandhs due to which people suffered a lot. The benefits reached to conflict profiteers only while common citizens were left to lurch,” he said. “Poor was made the poorest and some rich became the richest.”
He said that Srinagar was being discussed some four years ago not for development but for street violence and strikes. “Four years ago, there was no Poloview market, Lal Chowk development, river fronts etc. “Biggest change in the last four years is that today, love and peace has replaced stones on Srinagar streets,” he said.
He said that the administration is committed to help people of J&K fulfill their aspirations and dreams. “All hurdles in the peace and development are being removed and very soon peace will become a permanent feature in J&K,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the residents of the city, trade fraternity and all the stakeholders for their support to the administration during the infrastructural development works.
Junaid Azim Mattu, Mayor SMC and Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary also spoke on the occasion. Feroz Ahmad Baba, President Lal Chowk Traders Association expressing his views said he has seen such development for the first time.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor also inaugurated a variable messaging display at Srinagar Square.
Residency Road and Srinagar Square Lal Chowk Redevelopment projects include wire-free streets and public space with underground electric and communication utilities, wide pedestrian walkways, improved Storm Drainage, dedicated Sewer network, Multi-utility corridors, seating and parking spaces, illumination of streets, public facilities and a barrier-free environment providing universal access to all.
Senior officers of Civil and Police administration, officials of Srinagar Smart City Limited, members of Lal Chowk Traders Association and PHD Chamber of Commerce and people in large numbers were present.
On the eve of the country’s 77th Independence Day, the clock tower was illuminated in the colours of the national flag as a large number of people including tourists braved rains to participate in the inauguration event.
The renovation work on the clock tower, which has been the centre of political symbolism in Kashmir for many decades, was started late last year.
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