Opinion | Transformation of Lal-Chowk.

Lal Chowk, a square that signifies beauty and is enjoyed by locals and tourists, defines a paramount change in circumstances

Lal Chowk, also known as the Red Square, is called the heart of the Vale. It serves as the business hub and central market, witnessing a huge rush of people. Besides its historical significance, it gained fame after 1990 when militancy erupted in Kashmir. Lal Chowk was used for many slogans and speeches during the turmoil in Kashmir.
Lal Chowk has always been in the news because it hosted various speeches by top mass-level leaders from Kashmir and outside the region. This place has also been used for violent speeches. The Red Square is considered a highly sensitive place in the valley. During times of violence, separatists often called people to Lal Chowk. The “Lal Chowk Chalo” movement is very famous and holds equal importance in the history of violence in Kashmir. It witnessed various violent decisions, speeches, and provocations against the nation and saw the killing of innocent people.
Being centrally located, Lal Chowk needed transformation to make it more useful for the public, which was the main aim of the government. Under the Smart City initiative, this place has been beautified and transformed into a square point not just for the public but also for tourists visiting Lal Chowk to take pictures and admire its beauty. Reviving Lal Chowk was necessary not only in terms of decoration but also to address the chaos, confusion, and provocations suggesting violence in Kashmir. The new transformation of Lal Chowk conveys a message of its revival and promotes peace and prosperity.

The present Lal Chowk has transformed into a tourist spot where visitors can witness the blend of heritage and innovation. From classic to contemporary, the revival of Lal Chowk embraces modernity with style. Interestingly, in the old Lal Chowk, the historic clock tower was occupied by pigeons, with things appearing quite haphazard. The clock never displayed the exact time. It has been beautifully revamped and decorated, with the entire structure illuminated in tricolour in the evening, complemented by a separate tricolour flag fluttering atop it.

Thousands of tourists, pedestrians, and locals watched the momentous Chandrayaan-3 landing on August 23rd while comfortably seated in the peaceful ambiance of colourful Lal Chowk, amidst leaping fountains, gleaming floor lights, swings for kids, flower beds amid lit-up surroundings, and more. Under the mission of transformation, Lal Chowk has witnessed a change among the people in Kashmir. During Independence Day following the abrogation, people came out and hoisted the tricolour on the tower in Lal Chowk. Today, we are witnessing Lal Chowk filled with grace and the movements of both locals and tourists without fear or threat. This is the real transformation that has taken place after the abrogation.
Today, we witness that people and tourists enjoy places in Srinagar more than the places around it. Srinagar is famous for so many things, and one of the renowned names is Lal Chowk. The post-abrogation period has seen various transformations in Srinagar, with one of the prominent changes being the revival of security concerns and providing a threat-free environment in the city, along with a decorated Lal Chowk that is hailed by the people of Kashmir.
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