Surat: The city civic body had planned to open Package 1 of Zone 1 of the Dumas Sea Face Development Project in December, ahead of the municipal elections and before the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct. However, the plan has been put on hold due to delays and alleged negligence on the part of the contractor.

Around three months ago, the contractor had assured officials during a review meeting that work on Package 1 would be completed by December 15. However, the current status of the project indicates that completion may now take another one-and-a-half to two months. Following the exposure of lapses by the contractor, an urgent meeting was convened by the standing committee and the municipal commissioner under the chairmanship of the mayor, during which strict instructions were issued to the contractor and project officials.

The delay came to light after Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal conducted a surprise inspection of the project site along with her team, revealing that the contractor was lagging significantly behind schedule.

The project covers 102 hectares along the Dumas coastline and includes the development of tourist facilities across a 5.5-km stretch of the seashore. As part of Zone 1, spread over 12.86 hectares, capital works worth ₹244 crore are currently in progress.

The development includes several key attractions, such as a surface parking facility, a multi-level car parking (MLCP) building, four-wheeler and two-wheeler parking areas, a cycling track, a promenade, a walkway, an erosion protection wall, an amenities building, a yoga ground, an event plaza, an INS Surat model ship installation, marine-themed sculptures, and a convenience plaza.

During her visit, the commissioner reviewed completed works, including the surface parking area, yoga ground, promenade, and the mechanised parking system inside the MLCP building. She instructed officials and contractors to expedite all pending works, including horticulture, on a priority basis.

At an urgent meeting held at the municipal corporation last Tuesday, officials said the agency was instructed to speed up the remaining work and warned of strict punitive action if further delays occur. DeshGujarat