The recent visit by Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg to review development works across the city has once again raised hopes, but also familiar doubts. For the people of Srinagar, official inspections are no longer news. What truly matters is what follows after the officers leave.
There is no denying that projects like e-bus charging stations, housing for displaced families, footbridge repairs, and riverfront development are important. They point towards a more modern, accessible, and livable city. But residents have seen too many deadlines come and go, too many plans remain stuck between files and field realities.
The e-bus initiative, for example, carries real promise. Cleaner transport and better mobility are badly needed. Yet buses alone will not fix congestion unless routes are streamlined, traffic is managed, and services run reliably. Without this bigger picture, even well-intended projects risk becoming underused assets.
For the families from Habakadal awaiting new homes, development is not a policy term, it is about stability and dignity. Every delay extends uncertainty and hardship. Rehabilitation projects must move with urgency, not procedural comfort.
The crumbling Habakadal footbridge tells another story, one of neglect catching up with the city. Public infrastructure should be maintained before it becomes unsafe, not after it turns into a risk. Citizens should not have to wait for inspections to feel secure while crossing a bridge.
Riverfront development may beautify the city and open new possibilities for water transport, but beauty alone cannot mask everyday struggles. A city is judged not by how it looks in plans, but by how smoothly it functions for its people.
Ultimately, governance is not measured by the number of site visits or review meetings, but by results that people can see and feel. Srinagar does not lack plans or potential, it lacks timely execution and accountability. Turning inspections into action is the real test, and one the city hopes will finally be passed.
