by Faisal Kawoosa
By leveraging startups for digital projects, the government could not only enhance service delivery but also actively foster entrepreneurship. Engaging startups would be both cost-effective and strategically beneficial, allowing emerging businesses to build a portfolio of government projects that could strengthen their credentials for securing private-sector work.
The Jammu and Kashmir government, in its recently tabled budget, has underscored its commitment to supporting local businesses by introducing a price preference for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This initiative will enable local businesses to compete more effectively in public procurement. Furthermore, the budget has allocated ₹50 crore for the promotion of startups and the broader startup ecosystem. In keeping with this vision, it is only logical to extend opportunities in digital projects—such as website development, content creation, mobile applications, and other technology-driven initiatives—to local startups. Such projects should be reserved exclusively for them.
A compelling way to foster innovation and efficiency in these ventures is through hackathons. Consider the recently launched website of the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation, which allows tourists to book tickets online for gondola and ropeway rides. Had this project been executed through a hackathon, inviting startups from across Jammu and Kashmir to present their ideas and conceptual frameworks, the outcome would likely have been a more dynamic and engaging platform. The competition would have yielded a diverse pool of ideas, seamlessly blending technological sophistication with creative ingenuity, ultimately enhancing the user experience.
The intention behind citing the Cable Car Corporation’s website is not to highlight its shortcomings but to use it as a case study to illustrate the potential of a hackathon-driven approach. The corporation’s efforts in embracing digital transformation are commendable, as such initiatives enhance the ease of tourism. Digitisation simplifies the process of discovering and booking tickets in advance, while also streamlining visitor management, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience for tourists.
Enhancing Digital Infrastructure Through Hackathons
A hackathon-driven approach could have significantly improved the design and functionality of the recently launched Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation website. The existing platform, while serving its primary function of online ticket booking for Gondola and ropeway rides, lacks engaging content and an intuitive user flow.
At present, the website offers only a rudimentary overview of the Gondola and ropeways in Jammu and Kashmir. The information is sparse, failing to captivate visitors or provide a comprehensive guide to their experience. If the project had been executed through a hackathon, startups well-versed in the latest trends could have contributed innovative ideas. A virtual tour and immersive videos, for instance, could have offered potential visitors a vivid preview of the journey. Interactive maps detailing starting points, milestones, and endpoints could have provided valuable guidance, along with essential details about nearby facilities such as parking areas, restrooms, and restaurants. A well-structured information hub could have answered common tourist queries—how to reach the site, best practices to follow, potential hazards to avoid, and what scenic views to expect during the ride. Additionally, insights into the best seasons and timings for witnessing sunrises, sunsets, snowfall, or prominent peaks would have greatly enriched the visitor experience.
The website’s navigation and flow also leave much to be desired. Currently, menus are structured without considering the natural progression of a user’s journey. For instance, if a visitor lands on the Gulmarg Gondola page under the “Projects” section, the next logical step would be to book a ticket. However, there is no direct booking option on the page. Instead, the user must return to the menu, select “Gondola Bookings,” and then navigate to the Gulmarg Gondola section. This fragmented flow is not user-friendly and creates unnecessary friction. Had the website been developed through a hackathon, startups could have suggested a seamless journey, ensuring that visitors are guided effortlessly from exploration to booking.
The Importance of a Memorable Domain Name
A website’s domain name plays a crucial role in accessibility and security. While there is no rigid rule regarding its length, industry studies indicate that visitors tend to remember domain names of up to eight characters. Long domain names are not only difficult to recall but also create vulnerabilities. A visitor struggling to remember the website’s exact name is likely to search for it on Google, opening the door for scammers. Fraudulent websites with similar domain names can appear at the top of search results, misleading visitors into making fake bookings. By the time the deception is uncovered—sometimes weeks later, upon arriving in Gulmarg—it is too late. A concise, memorable domain name would have mitigated this risk, and this too could have been refined through a hackathon-driven ideation process.
Optimising the Booking Experience
The booking tool integrated into the website also presents significant usability challenges. It is not optimised for mobile devices, making ticket reservations cumbersome for the majority of visitors. Given that more than 85 per cent of web traffic typically originates from mobile devices, ensuring mobile responsiveness is imperative, particularly for key features such as booking and payment tools.
Moreover, the current system requires users to enter a query to check ticket availability for a specific date and time slot. If no tickets are available, the visitor must repeat the process manually for other dates and slots, making the experience unnecessarily tedious. A more intuitive approach would be to display ticket availability upfront, allowing users to select their preferred slot with minimal effort.
The website also assumes that visitors are already familiar with the ticketing system for the Gulmarg Gondola. It presents options for booking Phase 1 or Phase 2 without explaining what these phases entail. Visitors should be guided through this decision with accompanying maps, videos, and descriptions of each phase. Providing clear, engaging content would not only simplify the booking process but also enhance the overall experience.
Had this project been developed through a hackathon, startups would have introduced cutting-edge solutions, ensuring a seamless, secure, and informative platform. The government’s investment in digital infrastructure must extend beyond basic functionality—it should strive to create an experience that is both intuitive and enriching for visitors.
Elevating Digital Experiences Through Startups
The overall design and user experience of the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation’s website appear outdated, reminiscent of the early days of web development. In an era where digital engagement is paramount, websites must be visually compelling and intuitive. The primary audience for online booking services is Generation Z—users accustomed to seamless, aesthetically refined, and interactive digital experiences. The current iteration of the website fails to meet these expectations.
A hackathon-driven approach would have ensured a technically mature and creatively engaging platform. Startups, with their agility and expertise in the latest trends, could have transformed the project into an immersive digital experience. Beyond improving functionality, such an approach would provide business opportunities to local startups—many of which, despite their capabilities, struggle to secure government projects due to rigid financial codes governing tendering and procurement. A hackathon model could establish a special process, allowing startups to compete fairly and enabling the government to secure high-quality solutions at a competitive cost.
Structuring Hackathons for Maximum Impact
To institutionalise this approach, the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) could serve as the nodal agency. Various government departments requiring digital solutions—such as website design, mobile applications, content services, and digital marketing—could submit their project requirements to JKEDI. In response, the institute could organise hackathons, inviting registered startups to submit their ideas within a stipulated timeframe.
An expert panel, preferably comprising industry professionals, would evaluate the proposals. The panel could shortlist the most promising ideas and either recommend working with a single startup or forming a consortium of multiple startups that bring unique value to the project. Where necessary, the committee could identify gaps in proposals and suggest revisions to refine the scope and execution. Once the evaluation is complete, the panel would submit its recommendations to JKEDI, which would then forward the shortlisted startups to the relevant government department—in this case, the JK Cable Car Corporation.
The final selection process would involve soliciting financial bids from the shortlisted startups and ensuring compliance with procurement procedures before awarding the project. This structured approach would create a streamlined, transparent, and competitive system for engaging startups in government initiatives.
A Strategic Investment in the Startup Ecosystem
By leveraging startups for digital projects, the government could not only enhance service delivery but also actively foster entrepreneurship. Engaging startups would be both cost-effective and strategically beneficial, allowing emerging businesses to build a portfolio of government projects that could strengthen their credentials for securing private-sector work. Even if just 10 per cent of the allocated Rs 50 crore for startups were channelled into such initiatives, there would be no need for additional funds.
This model also offers a more practical alternative to conventional startup funding mechanisms. Rather than distributing seed capital without clear returns, the government could support startups by providing them with live projects to execute. This approach would enable startups to develop real-world solutions while generating revenue, eliminating the need for them to secure seed funding to build their minimum viable product (MVP). Naturally, some startups would still require traditional funding, but a balanced strategy—offering both project-based opportunities and financial assistance—would ensure a more impactful and sustainable startup ecosystem.
(The writer is the co-founder of Techarc, a technology analytics and consulting firm, and the convenor of JKDAF, an advocacy forum supporting digital startups through mentorship, industry connections, and funding opportunities. He is a regular contributor to Kashmir Life, writing on the technology sector. Ideas are personal.)
