Surat: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday dedicated and launched development projects worth around ₹600 crore for the people of Surat.

At a function held at the convention hall of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, the Chief Minister inaugurated development works worth ₹249 crore undertaken by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA), while laying foundation stones for additional projects worth ₹109.51 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for projects worth an estimated ₹242 crore to be executed by the Urban Ring Development Corporation Ltd. (URDCL).

Addressing the gathering and highlighting Surat’s achievements, the Chief Minister said the city has set national benchmarks in cleanliness and urged citizens to make cleanliness a habit rather than a campaign.

As he laid the foundation stone for Surat’s Outer Ring Road, he said the project would significantly reduce traffic congestion and enhance public convenience. Referring to the scale of development, the Chief Minister noted that projects worth several crores are now being executed smoothly, reflecting improved governance and planning.

Expressing concern over changing rainfall patterns due to global warming, he appealed to citizens to contribute to environmental protection by increasing green cover through tree plantation and actively participating in water conservation by harvesting rainwater.

The Chief Minister also said Gujarat’s coastline, which once remained neglected, has now emerged as a driver of prosperity due to focused development efforts. He cited Kutch’s transformation into a major tourism hub and the establishment of Asia’s largest green energy park at Khavda as examples of the state’s development vision.

Major projects inaugurated across various SMC zones include water treatment plants, sewage treatment facilities, drainage lines, health centres, fire stations, vending markets, and box culverts for rainwater disposal.

Under Phase 2 of the Outer Ring Road project, foundation stones were laid for the Sachin–Palsana to Sachin–Kadodara Junction Outer Ring Road at a cost of ₹184.20 crore and a flyover bridge on the Surat–Kadodara Road Outer Ring Road costing ₹57.65 crore. SUDA also laid foundation stones for several town planning schemes, including four-lane roads, asphalt roads, resurfacing works, and traffic management projects.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched Surat Municipal Corporation’s WhatsApp chatbot-based online payment facility, aimed at making civic services more accessible, faster, and more transparent in line with the Digital India Mission.

Surat district in-charge and Finance Minister Kanu Desai said the state government has allocated ₹30,000 crore for urban development in the 2025–26 budget, underlining its commitment to strengthening urban infrastructure and supporting the growth of new municipalities. He noted that Surat has emerged as a key development hub between Bharuch and Umargam and is among the fastest-growing cities globally.

Welcoming the dignitaries, Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal said the ₹600 crore worth of projects would strengthen infrastructure facilities in newly developing areas of Surat. She added that Urban Development Year–2025 aims to enhance digital governance, water management, sanitation, public health, and overall quality of life. She also announced that a regional development vision for South Gujarat would soon be rolled out through six development plans.

Agriculture Minister Jitubhai Vadhani, MP Mukesh Dalal, Mayor Dakshesh Mawani, MLAs, senior officials, elected representatives, and citizens were present at the event. DeshGujarat