SURAT: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is expediting the acquisition of private land necessary for the Multi-Modal Transport Hub (MMTH) project located near the GSRTC building and the Khand Bazaar railway underbridge.
Phase 1 of the project is advancing rapidly, with the GSRTC Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) nearing completion—42% of the work on the east side of Surat railway station has been finished. The elevated road corridor under Phase 2 is approximately 25% complete.
To assess progress, municipal commissioner Shalini Agarwal conducted a site inspection, urging officials to hasten the acquisition of private land for the elevated road. She also directed the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Limited to clear impediments affecting access to the ISBT and instructed SMC departments to ensure prompt provision of drainage and water services for the project.
A total of 18,858 sq m of SMC-owned land, valued at around Rs 175 crore, has already been transferred to the Surat Integrated Transportation Development Corporation Limited (SITCO), which is in charge of developing the MMTH.
In addition to this, 841 sq m of land has been acquired for the railway station redevelopment, with SMC compensating Rs 4.69 crore. The SMC has also resolved encroachments across five properties, totaling around 200 sq m, near the Lambe Hanuman Temple, handing over possession last November. Currently, road widening for the elevated corridor is ongoing along Ayurvedic College Road.
This project is a collaborative effort between Western Railway, GSRTC, and SMC, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) officially signed among all parties to facilitate seamless execution.
