Srinagar to get eight WiFi zones

The Srinagar city is likely to get 50 smart poles this year with cameras, LED screens and electric vehicle chargers as part of the smart city project.

The administration has also planned to create eight WiFi zones in the city after it received an encouraging response from one pilot WiFi zone at Zero Bridge in Rajbagh where officials claim 4000 people have latched on the connection.

The Chief Engineer of the Srinagar Smart City Project Iftikhar Kakroo informed that the work for installation of smart poles will start within two months. Last year the administration had issued tenders for 20 smart poles but the contractor developed cold feet and didn't start the project.


"Instead of 20 we will be installing 50 smart poles and work will start within two months," said Kakroo. The smart poles will have the facilities of 'cameras, RGB light stick, LED screens, street light, USB charger and an EV charger.'
"Most of the projects under Srinagar Smart City will complete by March 2024," he informed.

As part of the project the 66 Integrated Traffic Management System junctions will be installed across the city that will have at least 1000 cameras controlled at Integrated Command and Control Centre for the Srinagar Smart City. The ICCC will also have a traffic management system, early warning system, location-based targetted surveillance and messaging service. The Centre will act as the 'brain and nerve' for all Smart City IT-related interventions. It will be responsible for GIS mapping and will have a digital address for all the properties in the city. The Centre is also tasked to lay a 175 km long exclusive fibre net for uninterrupted internet services, that can be used by all the government departments.

The officials said that the e-busses will also have cameras that will help in curbing crime against women in the busses.

"Smart City mission is an aspirational light house projects catering to the specific needs of stakeholders this ensuring area based development. This is not a surveillance project and government departments cannot access any data as per will but have to follow the law," said Rajeev Jain, Additional Director General, PIB and spokesman of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.