Batamaloo Souk risks losing its soul before launch as Smart Buses take it over

Long before the aroma of Kashmiri delicacies could drift through its corridors or shopkeepers could roll up their shutters for the first day of business, the newly constructed Batamaloo Souk has already found itself occupied not by traders or visitors, but by smart buses. The decision by Srinagar Smart City Limited to operate Smart Buses from the yet-to-be inaugurated Souk has triggered concern among locals, traders, and residents around Batamaloo, many of whom fear the structure envisioned as a modern social and commercial space could slowly turn into an extension of the Old Batamaloo Bus Stand. The irony, several residents said, is difficult to miss. Just a few metres away lies the Old Batamaloo Bus Stand, a transport hub with enough open space to accommodate the fleet of smart buses currently stationed near the Souk. Yet, instead of utilising the existing bus stand infrastructure, buses have begun lining up around the newly built structure even before its formal inauguration. For many in the area, the sight feels less like the beginning of an urban revival and more like the slow disappearance of an idea. “This place was supposed to become a cultural and business centre where families could walk around, young people could spend evenings, and small businesses could flourish,” said 24-year-old university student Aamir Bashir, standing near the Souk’s partially occupied premises. “But the first thing we see here are buses, horns, and conductors shouting routes. If this continues, the Souk will lose its purpose before it even starts.” The Batamaloo Souk was envisioned as part of Srinagar’s broader urban transformation plan, a modern marketplace aimed at reorganising commercial activity while creating a cleaner and more pedestrian-friendly public space in one of the city’s busiest localities. However, traders operating near the adjoining bus stand say the movement of buses...