Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC)’s innovative use of urban space is winning hearts online, as the city’s first indoor sports facility under a flyover has gone viral. Located beneath the Shaheed Veer Bhagat Singh Bridge at Parle Point Char Rasta, the sports center has garnered praise from Tweeples for its smart design and multi-functional layout.

Developed at an estimated cost of ₹2.5 crore, the facility makes use of the previously unused space under three bridge spans near the popular Jani Farsan landmark. The center offers a variety of indoor games including table tennis, chess, carrom, air hockey, snakes and ladders, bowling, and box cricket—attracting fitness enthusiasts and families alike.

In addition to sports, the project features a reading room to encourage literacy and quiet leisure time, along with a cafeteria to provide refreshments. The civic body has also added thoughtful amenities such as a children’s play area, seating zones for senior citizens, and a locker facility for safe storage of personal belongings.

One user said, “Agar ye har city me ho jae to encroachment band ho jaega or public places ko recreational activity ke lie use kia jaa sakega.”

Another one seconded the opinion, saying, “Shud be replicated across india or atleast greenery shud be planted below metro and flyovers.”

One user was surprised and said, “Are you serious? This is in India? Why are such places not all over the media here?”

Another one cautioned, “This kind of location can only be successful if citizens are disciplined otherwise it will become a garbage house within a month.”

One user, Darshan, said, “A good idea can change whole view of City Infrastructure. #Ahmedabad should also apply this wherever the space allows, apart from parking.” Notably, the AMC has also opened a similar facility under the CIMS overbridge on Science City Road.

One more said, “Need more such areas in all our cities.. Many of these spaces under flyovers in Blr have become dusty and dumping area for construction waste.”

One addressed his tweet to an IAS officer in urban planning and said, “To all the IAS officers indulged in Urban planning. This is a challenge for you! This is something you need to plan in each and every city. What’s stopping our city administration from utilising already available spaces into something meaningful?”