Though too much is debated and discussed about the implementation of smart city projects in Srinagar and Jammu the twin capital cities of Jammu & Kashmir but neither the infrastructural facilities nor the delivery of basic social services has improved since the launch of smart city projects in the twin capital cities . Since improving infrastructure and basic human needs including water supply, sanitation, power supply, health, transport, and IT connectivity are the priority areas for any smart city project in any part of the country but neither the infrastructural facilities nor the delivery of basic social services has improved in either Srinagar the summer capital or Jammu the winter capital. Even in mid tourist season the power curtailments and supply of drinking water in water tankers to households in residential colonies shows that delivery of basic social services has not improved as much as it should have improved after the launch of smart city projects in twin capital cities of Jammu & Kashmir. Though power supply can’t be improved in days and months due to increasing complications in power generation and distribution system but water pipes running dry in mid summer months amid rains after intervals shows the failure of City Water Works Divisions of twin capital cities now controlled by the municipal corporations since last three years . Never forget that improving infrastructural facilities and the delivery of basic human needs ultimately raises the standards of urban governance and finally generates an atmosphere for establishing a clean and sustainable environment in cities and towns in any part of the world. So unless and until the basic infrastructural facilities and the delivery of basic public services are not improved. the smart city projects cannot be implemented and instead such projects are likely to miss deadlines year after year. As such it can be said that before talking about the implementation of smart city projects it would be better for the civic bodies of twin capital cities to focus their attention on raising the standards of basic infrastructural facilities for the purposes of improving delivery of basic public services particularly water supply, sanitation, power supply, health and public transport.
Unless and until the basic infrastructural facilities for the purposes of improving the basic human needs are not improved, the ideas of implementing smart city projects are likely hit many road blocks in the years to come.
As far the management of public transport in twin capital cities is concerned the biggest challenge is vehicle congestion which can be controlled by increasing parking spaces and launching road widening projects within and outside the twin capital cities. Similarly supply of drinking water too can’t also be improved in the twin capital cities without segregating the residential and commercial connection lines within and outside the twin capital cities. As far as the health system in twin capital cities is concerned it comes under too much of stress due to increasing intensity in referrals from the hospitals of towns and villages and as such health system in twin capital cities can’t be smoothly run without raising the standards of basic health system in towns and villages. So unless and until the basic infrastructural facilities for the purposes of improving the basic human needs are not improved, the ideas of implementing smart city projects are likely hit many road blocks in the years to come.
