Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir are caught in a troubling urban spiral. For years, urban expansion in Kashmir has followed a familiar pattern: population pressure, rising land values, weak enforcement, and piecemeal construction. One of the most alarming consequences of this urban spiral is the loss of ecological balance. Kashmir’s urban spaces are not ordinary city spaces; they exist in a fragile environment that requires extra care. If the urban spiral is allowed to continue, the cost will not just be aesthetic.