Though Surat is considered as fourth fastest developing city of the world and is the eighth most populated city of the country, it takes any citizen an hour to gain an entry in the city from NH8. Though Surat has highest GDP in terms of cities of Gujarat since last five years, when it comes to mass transport it has just 100 buses to cater to the need of nearly 50 lakh people.
"To be smart, with the help of experts like Darshaw & Company private limited, we have set up 21 parameters that covers and provides smart solutions to basic infrastructure issues like e-governance and citizen services, waste management, water supply system, energy system, urban transportation and others." Said Milind Torwane, Municipal Commissioner after presenting the vision of local body for future of Surat city on Thursday.
"Though we cover 91 per cent in terms of population in providing Sewerage system, we cover 94 per cent of the total population in terms of water supply system, when it comes to quality, we need to do lot many things." Said Torwane.
The smart city challenge cell of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) that has started an exercise of effective build up to make Surat a smart city and get a place among top 20 cities of the country , has decided to adopt different strategies for different city areas .
Four different methods of Retrofitting, re-development, green field development and Pan City initiative are being adopted to make Surat one of the smartest cities of the country. "We could adopt strategy of re-development for high density old urban area like Old city area of Sonifaliya, Raj Marg, Bhagal and Chowk. Similar things are being planned for Bhindi bazar of Mumbai. Whereas in new upcoming Dream city like project Green field development approach could be adopted that way it is done in Lake City project of Kolkata." Said Jatin Shah, City engineer , SMC.
At present out of 21 parameters that would make city a smart city, Surat has done very well in some of them like e-governance and citizen services, water and energy efficiency segments whereas it is lagging behind in aspects of urban transportation, tele medicine, skill development centers and even waste management.
"On the issues of social development too we need to do a lot of work." Said Niranjan Janjmera and added, "It is a fact, but no body can enter in city before an hour from NH8. We need an express highway that will give direct access to people from NH8 to the Surat city and take them directly to airport, railway station and other important destinations."
"Canal corridor, in between Kamrej and Kadodara on NH8 could the ideal place." Said Janjmera.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Himanshu Bhatt
Quelle/Source: The Times of India, 25.09.2015
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