Srinagar, Aug. 4 -- And this is our Smart City.

Srinagar's Smart City project was launched with the promise of transformation. Glossy hoardings, bright LED signs, and manicured footpaths suggest a city on the rise. But smartness isn't measured by posters or digital clocks. A city is smart only when its systems work, consistently, efficiently, and for everyone.

But sadly, when the wind picks up or the clouds burst, the city breaks down, roads flood, power flickers out, and waste overflows. And then there're some perpetual urban problems.

The Achin landfill, choking under tons of garbage, poisons the air of not just Srinagar, but neighbouring areas too. In summer, the stench travels far, pushing families away from settling nearby or marr...