Surat-Navsari twin city project gets govt nod

The much-awaited project of converting Surat-Navsari into twin cities has received preliminary nod from the state government. To make sure of the project’s feasibility, the government has formed a steering committee comprising top officials from various important bodies. The government has asked the committee to identify a consultant for preparing blueprint of the project.

Twin-city concept for Surat and Navsari was in the pipeline for more than a year. Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) conducted survey a year ago to find out validity of the plan and later submitted its report to the government. Another survey was done by Cept (Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology) for developing a regional link between these two cities.

Sources in Gandhinagar said that the steering committee formed by the state government comprises Surat municipal commissioner, CEO of Surat Urban Development Authority, CEO Hazira notified area, representative of SGCCI and GIDC and chief officer of Navsari municipality. Municipal commissioner will head the steering committee which will look after the entire work of transforming the plan into a concrete project.

The committee will take decisions on developing infrastructure, transportation, development of residential and industrial zones and other projects between two cities. A consultant will also be appointed to prepare project report of the proposed plans by the committee.

However, none of the members of the steering committee are aware about it. They have not received any circular from the government regarding the project. “We have not received any message or official letter from the state government or the department concerned for the development of project. Once written official permission is received, we can initiate some plans for it,” Jeevan Patel, director of planning (SMC), said.