by Shaista Amin
Recurring waterlogging after brief rainfall raises serious questions about Srinagar’s infrastructure, highlighting the need to prioritise resilience over beautification.
A city is not tested on sunny days; it is tested when systems are put under pressure. In Srinagar, unfortunately, it takes only a few minutes of rainfall to expose the cracks beneath the promise of ‘smart’ urban development.
A few days ago, the people of Srinagar once again witnessed a familiar yet deeply troubling reality. A brief spell of rain lasting only a few minutes was enough to transform several parts of the city into waterlogged zones. The irony is difficult to ignore. While Srinagar is steadily transforming its skyline with modern streetscapes and beautification projects, the city continues to struggle with one of the oldest and most basic responsibilities of urban governance—keeping its roads functional when it rains.
For a city that proudly carries the tag of a “Smart City”, such recurring episodes raise an uncomfortable but necessary question: Can a city truly be called smart when its basic civic infrastructure collapses after just a few minutes of rainfall?
Urban development cannot be judged merely by aesthetic improvements. Well-designed pavements, decorative lighting, renovated public spaces, and beautification projects undoubtedly enhance the city’s appearance. However, these visible transformations lose their significance when the most fundamental civic services fail to perform.
A truly smart city is one where roads remain functional during rainfall, drainage systems efficiently channel storm water, emergency services can move without obstruction, and citizens are not forced to navigate flooded streets to reach their workplaces, schools, hospitals, or homes.
The recent rainfall once again exposed the shortcomings of Srinagar’s drainage infrastructure. Within minutes, several roads were inundated, causing severe traffic congestion and disrupting normal life. Businesses suffered losses, commuters faced long delays, and residents were left questioning why such situations continue to recur despite repeated assurances of improved urban infrastructure.
Srinagar’s geography makes effective urban planning particularly important. The city has historically been sustained by an interconnected network of lakes, wetlands, canals, and natural water channels that regulated water flow and protected against flooding. Unfortunately, decades of unplanned urban expansion, encroachment upon wetlands, shrinking water bodies, blocked drains, and inadequate maintenance have severely compromised this natural drainage system. Consequently, even moderate rainfall now overwhelms the city’s infrastructure.
Climate change has further intensified this challenge. Weather patterns have become increasingly unpredictable, with short but intense spells of rainfall becoming more frequent. Cities across the world are redesigning their infrastructure to become climate-resilient. Srinagar cannot afford to remain dependent on outdated drainage systems that fail under conditions that are no longer exceptional.
The Smart City Mission was envisioned to improve the quality of urban life through sustainable infrastructure, efficient public services, and better governance. While Srinagar has witnessed several developmental initiatives under this programme, the recurring problem of waterlogging suggests that greater emphasis must be placed on strengthening the city’s foundational infrastructure. Storm water drainage, regular desilting of canals and drains, restoration of wetlands, scientific waste management, and long-term urban planning deserve priority over cosmetic improvements.
At the same time, civic responsibility cannot be overlooked. The improper disposal of waste into drains and waterways contributes significantly to blockages that aggravate flooding during rainfall. Public awareness, community participation, and responsible civic behaviour are essential components of any successful urban development strategy. Nevertheless, the primary responsibility for planning, maintaining, and upgrading public infrastructure rests with the authorities entrusted with managing the city.
Srinagar deserves better. Its residents should not have to fear that a few minutes of rain will disrupt their daily lives. Rainfall is a natural phenomenon, but widespread waterlogging resulting from inadequate infrastructure is not. It is a preventable problem that requires effective planning, timely maintenance, and accountable governance.
A city’s progress should never be measured solely by what is visible above the ground. The true strength of urban development lies beneath the surface, in drainage systems that function efficiently, infrastructure that withstands adverse weather, and public services that continue to serve citizens when they are needed most.
If Srinagar is to truly embody the vision of a Smart City, it must move beyond appearances and invest in resilience, sustainability, and functionality. Until then, every spell of rain will continue to remind us that development is not defined by slogans or beautification projects, but by a city’s ability to protect, serve, and support its people.
(The author is a Research Scholar in the Department of History at the University of Kashmir. Ideas are personal.)
