“The purpose of macadamisation (creating durable, all-weather roads) is often being defeated because newly laid roads are crumbling within weeks. This premature deterioration suggests the cause is something other than the typical excuses of weather or heavy traffic.”
The recent reports of macadamisation works in Srinagar city developing cracks merely a few months after completion have once again exposed the alarming state of civic infrastructure management under the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). What should have been a symbol of progress and modernization has instead turned into a glaring example of inefficiency, negligence, and poor accountability in public works. The very purpose of macadamisation — provide durable, all-weather roads that can withstand traffic and climate conditions — is being defeated when freshly laid roads begin to crumble within weeks. Such premature deterioration cannot be explained away by the usual excuses of weather or heavy vehicular load. Rather, it points directly to compromised quality of materials, lack of technical supervision, and possibly collusion between contractors and officials. When crores of rupees from the public exchequer are spent annually on resurfacing and repairing city roads, citizens have every right to demand durability, transparency, and accountability. Equally worrying are the mounting complaints about the drainage works undertaken by the drainage division of the SMC. Several localities that were recently declared “upgraded” continue to face water logging even after a mild downpour. Poorly designed or hastily executed drainage systems not only inconvenience residents but also cause long-term damage to roads and surrounding infrastructure. The recurrence of such issues year after year reflects not an isolated failure but a systemic breakdown in how civic projects are planned, implemented, and monitored. At the heart of this crisis lies the lack of a robust inspection and audit mechanism within the SMC.
“The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) must implement stringent quality control for public works (roads, drains) to achieve “smart city” status and restore public trust. This requires third-party audits, transparent reporting, disciplinary action for failing officers, and blacklisting of substandard contractors. Furthermore, the SMC needs to foster civic accountability through public inspections, citizen feedback, and open data to mend the growing rift in public faith.”
Engineering divisions appear to function in silos with minimal oversight and negligible post-completion evaluation. Tendering and work allotment processes are often shrouded in opacity, and there is little to no independent technical audit of the quality or lifespan of executed works. The absence of accountability emboldens inefficiency — and the cost is borne by ordinary citizens who navigate damaged roads, flooded streets, and disrupted services. Srinagar, being the summer capital and a fast-growing urban centre, deserves civic infrastructure that meets modern standards. A city aspiring for “smart city” status cannot afford roads that crumble in months or drains that overflow with the first rain. The SMC leadership must therefore institute stringent monitoring systems, third-party quality audits, and transparent reporting of all public works. Officers responsible for repeated failures should face disciplinary action, and contractors who deliver substandard work must be blacklisted. Beyond punitive measures, the corporation must embrace a culture of civic accountability. Periodic public inspections, citizen feedback mechanisms, and open data on ongoing projects can help rebuild public trust. Civil engineers and urban planners must be empowered and made accountable in equal measure. The people of Srinagar are not asking for miracles — only for roads that last, drains that function, and a municipal corporation that works with integrity. The cracks appearing on Srinagar’s roads are not just in the asphalt — they represent the widening cracks in public faith. It is time the SMC fixed both.
