SRINAGAR: CS,Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Wednesday went on a late evening visit of the Srinagar city to take stock of the double shift of works under progress under Srinagar Smart City Limited.He was joined on the occasion by the CEO of Smart City Srinagar, the Divisional Commissioner for Kashmir, and the Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department. The tour started in the historic Souq market and artisan centre that was still under construction and then went to the civil lines neighbourhood of Batmaloo, Ghanta Ghar, and the sports arena on MA Road. The Souq Market idea was disclosed to the Chief Secretary with the intention of reviving traditional craft production while maintaining its cultural and architectural legacy. According to him, the current construction should make sure that the design reflects the goal of developing a lively and appealing marketplace. In order to improve the entire shopping experience and encourage sustainable practises in the city, Dr. Mehta also evaluated the steps taken to include smart features into the city infrastructure, such as intelligent lighting systems, waste management facilities, and digital connectivity.He also went to Batmaloo to look at various areas of urban development in progress. The development of intelligent transportation systems, the creation of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, the use of digital ticketing services, and real-time passenger information systems are some of the initiatives he reviewed as they work towards enhancing urban mobility. Smart public transportation systems include GPS-enabled buses. The Chief Secretary also evaluated integrating smart traffic management techniques and building bike lanes to reduce congestion and improve the region’s transportation system as a whole.The Chief Secretary went to Ghanta Ghar, a historic location. Here, as part of the Smart City initiative, they looked over ongoing repair and preservation efforts. In addition to smart solutions, he stated that the region’s traditional architecture and legacy should be combined with modern conveniences. Additionally, he evaluated the status of heritage conservation initiatives, such as the restoration of ancient structures and the enhancement of the area around the Ghanta Ghar historical site.The present initiatives aim to preserve the region’s historical significance, draw tourists, and make the city centre and its surroundings visually appealing for locals and visitors. The officers addressed ways to overcome challenges and ensure the successful completion of the projects on schedule while protecting the cultural heritage after it was said that the government’s commitment to transforming Srinagar into a smart and sustainable city was obvious.in Srinagar in order to evaluate the usefulness of the video conference facility offered in the Central Jail. He then engaged with the system assistant and expressed his pleasure with the facility’s performance. The Chief Justice also emphasised the need of preserving inmates’ basic rights, maintaining their access to justice, and providing them with sufficient legal assistance. The Central Jail in Srinagar’s Legal Aid Clinic was also examined by the Chief Justice, who highlighted its critical role in offering convicts legal aid. The Chief Justice expressed his pleasure with the clinic’s operation and commended the painstaking work of the committed legal paralegal volunteers for defending the rights of detainees.The Central Jail’s Medical Unit, Recreational Unit, Tailoring Unit, Gym, Carpentry Unit, Vet Canteen, Mulaqaat Centre, Calling Booth, and other units were also inspected by the Chief Justice. On this occasion, DG Prisons gave the Chief Justice an assurance that the necessary steps would be done as soon as possible to decongest the Central Jail in Srinagar and to build more restrooms for the jail’s prisoners. Relevantly, the main goal of the visit was to evaluate the efficiency of the Legal Aid Clinic created in the Central Jail Srinagar in addition to taking stock of the circumstances and amenities accessible to the detainees.
