Seeing the possibility of the Water Metro services project, SMC had contacted the Kochi Municipal Corporation, which had launched their own water metro in December 2021. (Photo: Screengrab from YouTube/NarendraModi)
After Kochi in Kerala, Gujarat’s Surat is planning to become the second city with water metro services in India.
Utilizing the water from Tapi river, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has planned to add one more feather – a 33-km long water metro system – in its modes of transportation. A team of technical experts from Surat will, in the coming days, pay a visit to Kochi for a study tour.
The project aims to improve connectivity and traffic congestion, and promote eco-friendly transportation, keeping in mind the rising population in Surat, which is presently around 70 lakh people.
With the SMC’s upcoming barrage project, the water in Tapi river will remain intact from Valak to Rundh, covering a distance of 33 kilometres. Apart from this, the Tapi riverfront project is in progress and an embankment wall will be made on both the banks of the river.
Seeing the possibility of the Water Metro services project, SMC had contacted the Kochi Municipal Corporation, which had launched their own water metro in December 2021.
Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agrawal said, “The Kochi Water Metro’s teams will come to Surat and guide us. The French Development Agency also had assured us guidance on developing low-cost water metro services in Surat.”
She further added, “The planning has been done in such a way that the water metro ferry services will have connectivity to city buses, metro railways, so that people do not face any transportation problems. Different decks (stations) will be made on both banks.”
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SMC Udhna Zonal Chief and executive engineer D C Bhagwakar said, “… We have made a draft plan for this project and once our teams visit the Kochi Water Metro, we will make certain changes if required. The water-carrying capacity of the Tapi river will also be increased. Once the project gets operational, we hope that the citizens will take maximum advantage of it.”
Kamal Saiyed is a senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, providing extensive, on-the-ground coverage from Surat and the broader South Gujarat region and the Union territories of Daman, Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli. With a reporting career at the publication spanning back to 2007, he has established himself as a high-authority voice on the industrial, social, and political pulse of one of India’s fastest-growing urban hubs.
Expertise
Industrial & Economic Beat: Based in the "Diamond City," Saiyed offers expert reporting on the diamond and textile industries. His work tracks global market shifts (such as De Beers production changes), local trade policies, and the socio-economic challenges facing the millions of workers in Surat’s manufacturing hubs.
Civic & Infrastructure Coverage: He consistently reports on urban development and public safety in Surat, including:
Traffic & Urban Planning: Monitoring the city's 13-fold increase in traffic violations and the implementation of new municipal drives.
Public Safety: Investigative reporting on infrastructure failures, fire safety NOC compliance in schools and commercial buildings, and Metro rail progress.
Political Reporting: Tracking the shifting dynamics between the BJP, Congress, and AAP in South Gujarat and the neighboring Union Territories (Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli).
Crime beat: Armed with a good source network Saiyed has been able to bring out the human side of crime stories in his region ... Read More
