Surat Launches Gujarat’s First Bullet Train Linked Town Planning Scheme
Surat has emerged as the first city in Gujarat to introduce a town planning scheme linked directly to the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project, marking a pivotal step in integrating high-speed rail infrastructure with sustainable urban growth. The state government has cleared the plan, which will modernise areas surrounding the upcoming Surat bullet train station and create a model for other cities along the corridor.
According to senior officials in the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, the planning framework sets aside over three lakh square metres of land for road construction, designed to ensure seamless multimodal connectivity to the high-speed rail hub. The scheme aligns with the long-term vision of creating compact, transit-oriented neighbourhoods that prioritise accessibility, economic vibrancy, and reduced carbon footprints.
Five separate town planning schemes are being prepared to cover seven villages in the Surat district, including Kosmada, Chhedcha, Antroli, Sabargam, Oviyan, Niyol, and Vankaneda. Together, these will facilitate residential, commercial, and economic growth, while ensuring that new infrastructure such as utilities and public spaces complements the demand generated by the high-speed rail network.The first approved scheme, covering Kosmada, Chhedcha, and Oviyan, spans about 164 hectares and includes 135 final plots. Officials pointed out that this was the first time a town planning scheme of this scale had been cleared within such a short period, signalling the urgency to synchronise urban expansion with the progress of the bullet train project.
Planners emphasise that the development is part of Gujarat’s century-long tradition of town planning, tracing back to India’s first scheme launched in Ahmedabad in 1925. Unlike older approaches, the new model embeds sustainability at its core, with dedicated zones for green spaces, provisions for non-motorised transport, and equitable access to housing and public amenities.The scheme also reflects a broader shift in India’s urban strategy using mega infrastructure projects like high-speed rail as anchors for new growth centres.
Experts believe that well-planned station zones in Surat will not only ease congestion in existing city areas but also attract investment in logistics, retail, and services, creating thousands of new jobs while keeping carbon emissions in check.For Surat, already an economic powerhouse, the initiative places the city at the forefront of India’s experiment with transit-oriented development. If successful, the model could be replicated across other cities on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor, reinforcing the country’s goal of building equitable, climate-conscious, and future-ready urban centres.
