SRINAGAR, JUNE 25: Srinagar’s aspiration to become a smarter and more efficient urban center gained momentum today with a crucial meeting to lay the foundation for the City Logistics Plan (CLP), part of the national PM Gati Shakti Masterplan. The meeting, held at the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Central Office, was chaired by the Commissioner of SMC, Faz Lul Haseeb (IAS), and brought together a broad spectrum of voices involved in urban logistics.
Participants included officials from the Srinagar Development Authority, Srinagar Smart City Ltd., Roads and Buildings Department, Transport Department, Town Planning Organization Kashmir, City Traffic Department, and representatives from the Revenue, Industry and Commerce Departments. Experts in pollution control, GIS, and members of the Gati Shakti team also contributed to the dialogue. Together, they formed a comprehensive forum to rethink how freight moves through the city.
Opening the discussions, the Commissioner emphasized the vital yet often overlooked role freight plays in Srinagar’s economy. “Freight is the invisible backbone of our city’s economy. We need to make freight movement smarter, greener, and more resilient,” he said.
The proposed City Logistics Plan focuses on optimizing freight movement while reducing congestion and environmental stress in Srinagar’s complex urban environment. The group explored how GIS-enabled planning tools, real-time traffic systems, and innovative last-mile delivery solutions could be aligned with the PM Gati Shakti framework.
A special focus was placed on managing freight in sensitive areas such as Dal Lake, the heritage-rich downtown, and other zones where narrow roads and mixed land use complicate logistics. Several innovative ideas were proposed, including: Night-time delivery slots in central markets, Dedicated freight corridors on the city’s periphery, Establishing logistics hubs near the NH-44 entry points, Introducing low-emission transport for heritage zones, Implementing real-time digital dashboards to monitor freight movement
In his closing remarks, the Commissioner urged all stakeholders to elevate the role of logistics in urban planning. “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.”