Srinagar, June 25: Srinagar’s journey towards becoming a smarter, more efficient city took a decisive turn Wednesday as Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Faz Lul Haseeb, chaired a pivotal meeting to chalk out the roadmap for the City Logistics Plan (CLP) under the national umbrella of PM Gati Shakti National Masterplan held at the SMC Central Office. The meeting brought together a diverse group of officials from line departments Viz the Srinagar Development Authority, Srinagar Smart City Ltd., R&B Department, Transport Department, Industries and Commerce, Town Planning Organization Kashmir, City Traffic Department, representatives from the Revenue Department, pollution control experts, GIS Expert from SMC and Gati Shakti Team. voices from every logistical touchpoint sat across the table to reimagine how goods move through the heart of the City.
“Freight is the invisible backbone of our city’s economy. We need to make freight movement smarter, greener and more resilient,” said Commissioner Haseeb as he opened the floor. The proposed City Logistics Plan aims to streamline freight movement while minimizing urban congestion, especially in Srinagar’s delicate urban ecosystem. The team discussed how GIS-based planning, real-time traffic management, and last-mile delivery innovations could be integrated using the powerful framework of PM Gati Shakti. Special attention was given to Srinagar’s cultural zones, eco-sensitive areas like Dal Lake, and the historical downtown—where narrow roads and mixed land use pose daily challenges for logistics vehicles. Participants floated ideas like—night-time delivery slots in core markets, dedicated freight corridors on city outskirts, logistics hubs near NH-44 entry points, low-emission transport for heritage zones and real-time digital dashboards for freight visibility
Line departments voiced support, especially for regulating delivery hours to reduce peak-hour clashes between passenger and freight traffic. Representatives from the transport sector requested streamlined permit systems and better parking infrastructure for commercial vehicles. Haseeb concluded with a clear directive: “Let us treat logistics not as a background process but as a pillar of urban livability. This plan must reflect the soul of Srinagar—vibrant, efficient, and rooted in its environment.” The City Logistics Plan for Srinagar will now proceed into its data-mapping and design stage, with input from the Smart City Mission, Srinagar Master Plan-2035, and the evolving digital backbone of PM Gati Shakti
