J&K ACB Conducts Raids on Officials Linked to Srinagar Smart City Project
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Srinagar, Jan 10 (NationPress) The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted raids on Friday at various locations related to two officials—the financial advisor and executive engineer—in connection with the Srinagar Smart City Project (SSCP) amidst allegations of financial irregularities and disproportionate assets.
Sources within the ACB reported that these operations took place in the Shalteng and Takanwari areas of Srinagar city, as well as in the Pulwama district.
According to ACB insiders, the raids are part of an ongoing investigation into claims of misappropriation of public funds, which allegedly led to the accumulation of assets not commensurate with the known income of the accused officials.
“The focus of the investigation is to determine if the funds designated for various developmental projects under the SSCP were misappropriated for personal gain,” the ACB insiders stated.
It is important to note that a total of Rs 3,000 crore was allocated for 137 SSCP projects, which include roads, IT services, heritage preservation, sanitation, and urban mobility.
This initiative is part of the national smart cities mission aimed at enhancing the quality of life in cities included in the smart city projects.
Investigators are particularly examining whether the funds intended for numerous infrastructure and development projects under the Smart City initiative were misused or diverted.
Initiated as part of India’s comprehensive Smart Cities Mission, the Srinagar Smart City Project seeks to modernize urban infrastructure, enhance public services, and improve the quality of life for residents.
“The officials in question are accused of manipulating contracts through cost inflation, approving sub-standard works, and exhibiting a lack of transparency in the procurement process,” sources disclosed.
It should also be highlighted that the projects executed under the SSCP have faced public criticism from the outset. Despite being carried out rapidly, the pace of completion drastically slowed down or came to a halt after the initial stages of road excavation and contract allocations. Many roads that were dug for modernization have remained blocked and unusable for extended periods.
