SRINAGAR: The bustling commercial heart of Lal Chowk now boasts a revamped clock tower, adorned with significant clocks on each side of its pinnacle. These advanced timepieces, purpose-built for ‘Ghanta Ghar,’ resound with hourly strikes, serving as a temporal guide amidst the bustling lives of the city.
The resounding chimes of these clocks resonated across the entirety of Lal Chowk during the inauguration of the newly designed clock tower by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday evening.
These state-of-the-art clocks boast display units on all four sides and are governed by a central processing unit, offering uniform time displays; a departure from past variations.
With each hourly strike, the reverberations echo throughout Lal Chowk, ensuring that the local populace remains vigilant about the passage of time, said Iftikhar Kakroo, Chief Engineer of Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL).
Kakroo affirmed, “The clock is meticulously tailored for Ghanta Ghar, not a store-bought item. Its bespoke design features local emblems like Chinar leaves, Roman numerals, and other intricate details.”
Highlighting the clocks’ technological sophistication, Kakroo elaborated, “These advanced timepieces were sourced externally and assembled within India. Manufactured by Medieval India—a specialised clock tower company—these clocks are fully automated.”
“The clock operates on an autonomous system, able to function for 7 hours uninterrupted during power outages, thanks to its Inbuilt Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). In case of any disruption, the clock seamlessly resets itself,” Kakroo added.
Meanwhile, the local community, including traders, enthusiastically welcomed the revitalization of the historic Ghanta Ghar.
Irfan Ahmad, a trader, said, “The redesigned clock transports us to a historical era, reminiscent of the past when clocks used to toll every hour. Amidst the digital age, it’s a journey back in time.”
Beyond its utilitarian significance, the clock tower’s rejuvenated aesthetics serve as an appealing and charming draw, likely to attract visitors to this iconic spot.
The revamped Lal Chowk was was inaugurated by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. He dedicated the renovated prime commercial, tourism and heritage hubs under Srinagar Smart City Ltd to the citizens and business fraternity.
In his address on the occasion, the Lt Governor commended the commitment and dedication of officials of Srinagar Smart City Ltd, all the workers, agencies engaged in the redevelopment projects inaugurated today.
“Srinagar has emerged as a role model in Urban Transformation with Srinagar Smart City Ltd offering smart solutions to enable better urban life, lively nightlife scene, stunning revamped market, riverfront and access to seamless city services,” the Lt Governor said.
Smart development of iconic locations for smarter future of Srinagar will make it a city with best quality of life for the citizens and tourists, he added.
Sinha said the recent transformation of J&K has ensured people have access to the best infrastructure. The picturesque architecture, public plaza at Clock Tower is reflective of India’s long cultural history and ancient values. It will be a major centre of attraction for travellers, traders and citizens, he added.
Residency Road has been converted into a high street which will also improve economic activity in the area, he further added, according to a DIPR statement.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor also talked about journey of Jammu Kashmir on the path of peace and development and the unprecedented progress registered across the sectors.
When our country became independent and holy book ‘Constitution of India’ was scripted by our forefathers for future guidance, the biggest objective was to fulfil the promises of freedom fighters of reaching to the last man in queue with all the benefits. It didn’t happen in J&K. Certain elements had weaponised the secessionist ideology and J&K suffered inequality, discrimination for decades, the Lt Governor said.
We have ended the discrimination and inequality under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. J&K UT has marched a great distance forward in the last 3-4 years and a new ecosystem was created to ensure a far greater prosperity for our people, he said.
“From Vitasta to Ganga, Shehr-e-Khaas to Banaras, Lal Chowk to Lal Qila, there is just one heart beat. The transformation of J&K reminds us that Unity in Diversity is our biggest strength and with peace, love, harmony, brotherhood and stability, great goals can be achieved, the impossible can be made possible,” the Lt Governor added.
He also expressed gratitude to the residents of the city, trade fraternity and all the stakeholders for their support to the administration during the infrastructural development works.
Junaid Azim Mattu, Mayor SMC and Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary also spoke on the occasion. Feroz Ahmad Baba, President Lal Chowk Traders Association expressing his views said he has seen such development for the first time. On the occasion, the Lt Governor also inaugurated a variable messaging display at Srinagar Square.
Residency Road and Srinagar Square Lal Chowk Redevelopment projects include wire-free streets and public space with underground electric and communication utilities, wide pedestrian walkways, improved Storm Drainage, dedicated Sewer network, Multi-utility corridors, seating and parking spaces, illumination of streets, public facilities and a barrier-free environment providing universal access to all.
