GANDHINAGAR, India — The industrial powerhouse of Surat is currently the frontrunner to become India’s first major metropolis to be declared slum-free. With a population exceeding seven million, the city’s transition marks a significant milestone in urban development that officials say reflects decades of persistent policy reforms.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday, state spokesperson Jitu Vaghani informed the media that Surat has seen a staggering decline in its informal housing sectors. According to government figures, the city’s slum-dwelling population has dropped from 38 percent in 2006 to just about 5 percent today. This shift has made slum areas in the city almost negligible, setting the stage for an official designation as a slum-free metropolitan area.
Minister Vaghani noted that the progress is the result of long-term visionary initiatives originally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his time as Gujarat’s Chief Minister. These efforts have focused on continuous investment in high-density housing, modern infrastructure, and the systematic rehabilitation of residents into permanent homes.
The scale of Surat’s achievement is particularly notable when compared to previous urban milestones in India. While Chandigarh holds the title of the country’s first slum-free city, it supports a population of approximately one million. Surat, with a population estimated between seven and eight million, has had to navigate far more complex logistical and social challenges to reach this point.
In response to the current data, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has directed the Chief Secretary and senior leadership to undertake a final, result-oriented push to complete the city’s transformation. Furthermore, the Chief Minister has instructed officials to begin the process of replicating the Surat model in other metropolitan hubs across Gujarat. The state government remains committed to this template of inclusive urban growth to ensure that a higher quality of life is accessible to all citizens regardless of their economic background. (Source: IANS)
