Surat’s lady luck: Rs 2,500-cr projects in 4 yrs

During her tenure,over 20,000 huts were shifted from the Tapi riverfront and the dwellers relocated to EWS quarters allotted to them. Under her charge,the civic body bagged 14 national and international awards for use of IT in providing public services.

Ten bridges and flyovers and 600 kilometers of road were built in the city during her stint. Water treatment capacity was boosted to 500 MLD.

Her another initiative,a unique one,was to grade eateries in the Surat city to regulate hygiene standards as well as check food adulteration. Aparna,who takes over as the finance secretary,said,“I am satisfied with the job I did during this. People reposed faith in me and supported me in the development activities. I will surely miss the people of Surat and their love to me. I kept my focus on the infrastructure,quality of life and sustainability. I set a higher benchmark.”

Her successor M K Das,from Vadodara,will have to take forward BRTS projects,entertainment projects,riverfront project,Gopitalao development,construction of cable-stayed bridge on Tapi river,etc.,that she started but could not complete.