Apart from elevators, parking space and a fun zone, the view towers that have been planned will also house a mini cafeteria at the top.
Now Surtis can get a panoramic view of their city.
The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is planning to build view-towers at three locations in the city. The civic body has also made provisions for a token amount for the project, but the decision is still on paper. Interestingly, the officials had proposed a similar project in 2006, but the idea was dropped for reasons unknown.
The civic body has now planned the view-tower project on the model of towers seen in foreign countries. The planned 30-35 meters tower will be covered at the top. Apart from elevators, parking space and a fun zone, the tower will also house a mini cafeteria at the top.
To check the feasibility of the project, the standing committee has made a provision of Rs75 to Rs25 lakh each for three towers, in the new budget.
The civic body plans to develop view-towers at Ajadan, Varachha and Katargam. "For the successful implementation of the project, adequate land near the banks of river Tapi is required.
The original cost of the project will be much higher, but provisions have been made to meet the expenses of consultants and experts for the project. Once a blue-print of the project is ready, larger provision can be made in the budget," Mukesh Dalal, chairman of standing committee, said.
Dalal added that developing such tower will only provide for an added tourist attraction.
It is believed that the visitors will be charged an entry fee. And each person will get a maximum of 30 to 60 minutes on the top of the tower. The BJP feel that apart from being a value addition, such towers can also yield good income for the civic body. The idea of an observatory tower project with a height of 60 meter near Athwagate was mooted by the civic body in 2006.
Ultra-modern design and magnificent lighting along with a restaurant, parking space and elevators were planned for the tower. The then municipal commissioner Pankaj Joshi had even approved the project, but the standing committee did not find the project viable.
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