Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), in its annual budget for 2023-24, has made provisions to run a Water Metro on the Tapi River. In a significant step toward the implementation of this project, a team of experts from Kochi, the only city in India with a Water Metro, will visit Surat soon. This team will assess the viability of the project and provide insights into how Surat can adapt the model for its own use.

Earlier this year, Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal visited the Netherlands as a representative of the Gujarat government, where she met with Kochi Water Metro’s technical experts. During the discussions, plans for Surat’s Water Metro were presented. As a result of these talks, the expert team from Kochi will visit Surat on November 22 to assess the feasibility of the project.

Meanwhile, the conventional barrage project connecting Rundh-Bhatha is under construction, which will create a water reservoir upstream. This project, along with provisions for water sports, is also part of the Water Metro’s broader vision. Work is also progressing on the metro train project along both banks of the Tapi River, with stations under construction. Additionally, Surat’s 108 km BRTS corridor is now operational. Experts will conduct a field visit to explore how the Water Metro can be implemented upstream of the barrage, linking it to the metro train stations and the BRTS corridor.

This project is expected to improve connectivity and enhance Surat’s transportation infrastructure, marking a significant step toward modern urban mobility. DeshGuajart