Surat: Union Jal Shakti Minister and Navsari MP C.R. Patil will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for multiple development projects of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) in the South Zone-B (Kanakpur) area on March 22. The projects include the widening of the Satwalla railway overbridge, development of a lake, construction of health centres, civic buildings, school infrastructure and installation of streetlights.

The major project to be inaugurated is the recently widened railway overbridge on the 90-metre State Highway connecting Surat–Sachin–Navsari under TP Scheme No. 59 (Un). The bridge widening has been completed at an estimated cost of ₹35.36 crore by the Bridge Cell of the corporation. The bridge is expected to ease long-standing traffic congestion on the busy Surat–Navsari route via Sachin.

Among other projects to be inaugurated, a lake has been developed at Pali under TP Scheme No. 34 (Pali–Sachin–Kansad) at a cost of ₹4.24 crore. Two primary health centres have been constructed in the Kanakpur zone — one at Gujarat Housing Board COP-4 at a cost of ₹2.33 crore and another at TP Scheme No. 34, Final Plot No. 157 (ward office site) at a cost of ₹2.35 crore. A Shantikunj facility for senior citizens has also been built at Final Plot No. 214 of TP Scheme 59 at a cost of ₹16.45 lakh.

In addition, foundation stones will be laid for several new projects in the same zone. These include construction of a new Kansad ward office costing ₹84.58 lakh, construction of a new school building for Municipal Primary School No. 294 under TP Scheme-59 at a cost of ₹5.28 crore, and construction of new classrooms along with repair work at Municipal School No. 372 in Pali at a cost of ₹1.07 crore.

The Light and Energy Efficiency Cell will also undertake installation of a streetlight system on the road from Sachin Satwalla Bridge to Ramji Mandir up to Pardi-Kande, with an estimated cost of ₹26.16 lakh.

Civic officials said the projects are aimed at strengthening infrastructure and improving public amenities in the fast-developing Sachin–Kansad–Un–Pali belt of Surat city.

MLA Sandeep Desai said the inauguration of the railway overbridge marks an important milestone in the joint efforts of the state and central governments to strengthen infrastructure in the Surat–Navsari belt. He added that improved road connectivity will benefit thousands of daily commuters travelling to Sachin GIDC, Hojiwala Industrial Estate, Navsari and Bilimora.

Civic authorities said the bridge widening will help streamline traffic flow on one of the busiest industrial routes in South Gujarat and provide long-term relief to motorists who have faced congestion for years. DeshGujarat