Surat: The ambitious Multi Modal Transport Hub (MMTH) project under the Surat Railway Station Redevelopment is progressing rapidly, with Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal conducting an on-site inspection today. Senior officials from SITCO and the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) were also present during the visit.

During the inspection, officials briefed the Commissioner on the overall layout and the progress of ongoing works.

According to officials, 96% of the GSRTC ISBT building and 42% of the East Side Station building have been completed under Phase 1 of the project. In Phase 2, 25% of the elevated road corridor has been completed.

Agarwal reviewed the project in detail and issued directives to fast-track pending tasks. She instructed officials to expedite the acquisition of private land required for the elevated road and called for a coordination meeting between Metro Rail authorities, the Land Acquisition Officer and SMC officials to resolve outstanding issues.

She also directed GMRCL to clear space obstructed due to metro construction to ensure proper access to the nearly completed GSRTC ISBT building. Additionally, she stressed the need to accelerate the provision of essential water and drainage infrastructure.

According to an official release, SMC has already handed over 18,858 sq. m. of its land, valued at ₹175 crore, to SITCO for the project. Another 841 sq. m. of land was compulsorily acquired at a compensation cost of ₹4.69 crore and made available in July.

In addition, SMC cleared five existing properties near Hanuman Temple to facilitate construction of the elevated bridge, handing over the land to SITCO on November 20. The civic body has also initiated widening of the road from Lal Darwaja to Ayurvedic College to 80 feet as part of the project’s traffic planning.

The total land required for the MMTH project is 20,740 sq. m., and acquisition is currently in progress.

The MMTH project, a key initiative of the Central Government, is being developed as a joint venture between Western Railway, the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) and the SMC. An MoU has already been signed among the stakeholders. Once completed, the project will offer state-of-the-art integrated transport facilities, bringing Metro Rail, Railways, GSRTC buses, city buses and BRTS services under one roof. Extensive planning for elevated bridges and connecting roads in the surrounding areas is also underway. DeshGujarat