Srinagar, May 05 (KNO): What was promised as a model “food street” under the Smart City project has instead turned into a symbol of failure, dust and dysfunction.
The famed Khayam food street road, an important commercial stretch in Downtown Srinagar, today presents a tale of realities like patchy stone paving on the sides and broken, dug-up surfaces, leaving commuters, shopkeepers and pedestrians struggling daily.
Ground visuals reveal that sections with lastly laid stone paving are interspersed with broken stretches, exposed cuts and unfinished patches, raising serious concerns over the quality of work.
Locals told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the project, instead of easing movement and boosting business, has severely disrupted daily life in one of the city’s busiest market corridors.
“This road was supposed to become a food street attracting visitors, but today it is a mess. Customers avoid coming here because of torn-out roads and inconvenience,” said a local trader.
The Khayam stretch was earlier executed as part of a broader Downtown redevelopment package involving road resurfacing, drainage upgrades and streetscape improvements. However, stakeholders now allege that the execution lacks proper supervision, with signs of damage already visible on completed portions within a year.
“If such huge public funds are being spent, why is the work breaking, barely a year after completion? It raises serious questions about quality control and monitoring,” said another shopkeeper.
Residents pointed to uneven surfaces and poorly aligned paving blocks and said they now reflect the road’s poor durability.
The incomplete state of the road has triggered multiple public concerns, including persistent traffic congestion due to a narrowed carriageway and heightened safety risks for pedestrians and two-wheelers.
Commuters said navigating the stretch, especially during peak hours, has become increasingly chaotic.
Residents and traders have urged the authorities to immediately intervene, expedite repairs and fix accountability by taking strict action against the contractors and officials involved in the project’s execution—(KNO)