Surat: As the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) marks its 60th anniversary on Thursday, the civic body has set its sights on transforming Surat into a world-class city by 2047, building on decades of rapid growth and resilience through successive challenges.The civic body was constituted as the Surat Municipal Corporation on Oct 1, 1966, after functioning earlier as Surat Sudhrai. Since then, Surat has grown from a small town into India’s eighth-largest city, with a population of more than 8 million. Known as Diamond City, it is among the country’s fastest-growing urban centres and has earned recognition as one of India’s cleanest cities. It has also emerged as a major growth engine in the Surat Economic Region.A significant recent change in the civic body’s identity was the renaming of its headquarters. Surat Sudhrai began functioning from Mughalsarai in 1867, and the heritage building was renamed “Shree Tapi Bhavan” in March.As it reaches the 60-year milestone, SMC continues to grapple with several civic issues. The Nasir Nagar demolition controversy and the management and disposal of solid waste have drawn sustained public attention in recent months.Mayor Maya Mavani said she plans to introduce a symbolic initiative as part of the anniversary celebrations.“On its 60th birthday I am planning to propose that all in SMC pledge to give and receive books in place of bouquet throughout the year. The city is ready take lead on path of development,” she said.Standing committee chairman Rajan Patel said the civic administration has consistently demonstrated its capacity to deliver.“The city and civic body have already proved its abilities in past few decades. Our aim is to become global leader by 2047,” he said.Issues Raised In General Board MeetingA day before SMC’s 60th anniversary, former mayor Daxesh Mavani raised concerns during the general board meeting on Wednesday over delays in major development projects and insufficient monitoring.He cited the second phases of the Dumas Seaface and Katargam bridge projects, saying both had progressed earlier because of regular follow-up but are now moving slowly due to irregular reviews. Mavani called for closer monitoring by senior officials and routine progress updates for elected councillors. He said project delays often result in public anger being directed at elected representatives, even when the shortcomings arise during execution.
