13.9.11

Surat's Tapi riverfront project

If all goes well, then the diamond city will have a beautiful riverfront on the lines of Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad in the next two years. After a wait of eight months, the Gujarat government has finally sanctioned the proposal put forth by Surat Municipal Corporation to hand over to it 54 hectare (ha) land for the development of Tapi riverfront on Friday. Official sources said SMC aims to convert Tapi into an environment protector and a centre for public recreation and entertainment on the lines of Sabarmati riverfront project. The foundation stone for the Rs 40 crore project was laid on January 25 as part of golden jubilee of Gujarat’s statehood and Republic Day celebrations in the city by chief minister Narendra Modi. The project will come up on 54 hectares of land on a three kilometre stretch on Tapi riverbank. About 30 hectares of land was illegally occupied four months ago by slum dwellers. But, the civic body in one of its biggest anti-encroachment drive shifted over 30,000 residents from the slums like Bapunagar, Nehrunagar, Raja ovara etc. to the newly constructed EWS housing scheme at Kosad. The Tapi riverfront project will have a walkway, food plaza, cycle track, ground for public festivals, green garden and mini floral park. It will also have parking for over 2,200 four-wheelers and 3,000 two-wheelers.

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