Surat: City Mayor Dakshesh Mavani, Standing Committee Chairman Rajan Patel, and Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal met Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai in Gandhinagar to seek a grant of around Rs. 400 crore to speed up the completion of the Outer Ring Road project, a key infrastructure initiative for Surat city.

The first phase of the project spans 17.31 kilometers and is estimated to cost Rs. 486 crore, covering roadworks, vehicle underpasses, flyovers, and other infrastructure. While some of these works were scheduled for completion in previous years, significant portions remain unfinished.

Officials emphasized the need to expedite work by issuing tenders promptly, aiming to complete the project quickly. They have requested a grant of approximately Rs. 300–400 crore to facilitate this.

The Outer Ring Road project, which commenced in 2019, has been progressing slowly. Earlier, the state government had announced that the project would be completed by 2023, but even after two years, much of the work remains pending.

Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal had planned to execute the project in phases. Despite this phased approach, progress has been slow, prompting city officials to seek urgent fund allocation from the state government. The state has previously allocated funds for the South Region under the Special Economic Region, but officials say additional resources are needed to accelerate the project. DeshGujarat