Surat: If I had not come to Surat today, I would have same impression of Surat that I saw 20 years ago. The city has changed drastically in twenty years, said Ratan Tata who was on one-day visit to Surat.

Tata specially choose to travel across the city sitting in Range Rover car. Though there were other cars offered to him such a Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Jaguar, Tata choose Range Rover due to its height, as he wanted to see the city of Surat from inside the car.

Tata visited Armenian and Dutch cemetery in Katargam. He visited Parsi Agiyari in Saiyadpura. He watched Parsi Panchayat bhavan and Sir JJ School from outside. He also saw JJ Training school, Surat fort and newly built Hope bridge sitting in car.

Tata said he felt Surat was changed as soon as he stepped out of the airport. Tata praised cleanliness in Surat.

Tata received Santokba award in presence of selected guests. The award is conceived by diamond baron Govindbhai Dholakia of SRK exports. Tata watched the procedure of converting a rough diamond into polished one in detail at SRK facility.

Receiving the award, Tata said he had inherited wealth, but Govindbhai created wealth starting from zero.

Tata also visited Kiran hospital. He was served Gujarati authentic lunch including Khaman, Patra, kadhi and Puran poli.

DeshGujarat