Seminar moots core sector development in Surat

Developing cities like Surat should harness new technology for future growth, Chandrashekhar Prabhu, chairman of the advisory committee to the Maharashtra government, said.

Addressing a seminar on 'Surat - metropolis vision 2020', at the 'Udhyog-2004' trade fair in Surat organised by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), Prabhu appreciated the economic growth of Surat over the past decades.

Comparing the growth of Surat with that of Mumbai, Prabhu said Surat was geographically blessed and its seaport should be developed.

"See how fast Mumbai developed from Bandra to Andheri, Borivali to Bhayander and Vasai to Virar. Now the development may come up to Surat," he said.

"The fast growth of cities in our country has created a need for the development of satellite townships. In the West, people want their residences in rural areas and often commute to the urban areas, while in India people want to reside in urban areas," he said.

B K Katti, professor emeritus of SVNIT, presented a slide show on the increasing vehicular traffic in Surat.

Katti called for developing a good road network and the peripheral areas located in the Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA) jurisdiction.

Former chairman of HUDCO V Suresh said the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) should give due importance to the social infrastructure like river front development, rail transport, museum, art gallery, culture development centre and a concrete road network.

"We can succeed in our development and progress only if we have the right perspective," SGCCI president Ashok Shah said.

He called upon the city planners to ensure that basic needs and amenities of the people are not ignored in the future development plans.

The seminar chairman Rajnikant Marfatia explained the historical importance of Surat city in the development of trade and industry in the country.

SGCCI vice president Dinesh Mandlaywala and architect Bharat Sheth also spoke.

Surat mayor Snehlatabahen Chauhan was the chief guest.

SMC standing committee chairman Shanker Chevli was also present.