Surat: The Surat Urban Development Authority has taken a landmark step in shaping the areas around the upcoming Surat station of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High‑Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor. Town Planning (TP) Scheme No. 61 — covering Kosmada‑Chedchha‑Oviyan villages — has been awarded in just eight months, setting a rapid precedent for development planning in the region.
Defining the Scope: What TP Scheme‑61 Involves
- Area & Coverage: The scheme encompasses 164 hectares with 135 final plots delineated.
- Connectivity Infrastructure: Over 300,000 square meters of road network is planned to ensure seamless access around the bullet train station.
- Villages Under Focus: TP Scheme‑61 is one of five schemes in the works under the High‑Speed Rail Node plan, which together span 909 hectares across seven villages: Kosmada, Chedchha, Antroli, Sabargam, Oviyan, Niyol, and Vankaneda.
Senior Town Planner K.D. Patel called the scheme “more than just a planning document — it is a roadmap for inclusive, future‑oriented development,” emphasizing its role in shaping residential zones, economic sectors, and multimodal connectivity.
Legal Process & Acceleration
The Surat authorities, under the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976, have completed all required legal formalities: stakeholder consultations, public hearings, measurement sheets, and draft documentation. K.D. Patel, appointed as Town Planning Officer, noted that finalizing TP Scheme‑61 in eight months is unprecedented and reflects a strong commitment to fast‑tracking urban planning linked to the MAHSR project.
Bigger Picture: Integrating Bullet Train into Urban Growth
- The MAHSR project covers 12 stations overall (eight in Gujarat, four in Maharashtra). Surat is one of its key stations.
- Planning schemes like TP‑61 form part of Surat’s broader vision to integrate modern infrastructure, well‑planned housing, and transportation networks around the bullet train nodes.
- By designing efficient road access, clear plot layouts, and connectivity early, the city aims to avoid haphazard growth that often occurs when large infrastructure is introduced without accompanying planning.
Stakes & Expectations
The awarded TP Scheme is expected to benefit residents, businesses, and real estate in and around the bullet train station zone. It opens doors for better property clarity, improved amenities, and investment in commercial as well as residential sectors.
However, execution of the scheme — building roads, providing utilities, ensuring affordable housing, addressing environmental and social impacts — will be closely watched by stakeholders. The speed of implementation will determine how effectively the planning translates into tangible development.
