My Surat in My Style
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| Surat |
Surat is Gujarat's second largest city with a population of 2.1 million at the 2001 census and 4.6 million at the 2011 census. It is the eighth largest city and ninth largest metropolitan area of India. Surat is the 34th largest city by area in a study conducted by The City Mayors Foundation, an international think tank on urban affairs. The city registered an annualized GDP growth rate of 11.5 per cent over the seven fiscal years between 2001 and 2008. Surat ranks 4th in a global study of fastest developing cities conducted by The City Mayors Foundation, an international think tank on urban affairs. Surat Bags Best City Award in 2013 constituted by Annual Survey of India's City-Systems ( ASICS)
Geography
Surat is a port city situated on the banks of the Tapti river. Damming of the Tapti caused the original port facilities to close; the nearest port is now in the Magadalla and Hazira area of Surat Metropolitan Region. The city is located at 21°10′N 72°50′E.[10] It has an average elevation of 13 meters. The Surat district is surrounded by the Bharuch, Narmada,Navsari, to the west is the Gulf of Cambay and the surrounding districts. The climate is tropical and monsoon rainfall is abundant (about 2,500 mm a year). According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the town falls under seismic zone-III, in a scale of I to V (in order of increasing vulnerability to earthquakes)
Surat has grown in area since the early 1700s. The oldest part of the city developed in the area between the train station and the area known as Athwalines. Since the 1970s most of the new development, including the most desirable location for the city's burgeoning middle and upper class, is the area between Athwalines and the coast at Dumas.
Finance and Economy
Surat ranked 8th in India with a GDP of $40 billion in fiscal year 2011-2012 ($14 billion in 2010). Surat GDP in 2020 will be around $57 billion estimated by The City Mayors Foundation, an international think tank on urban affairs. The per capita GDP was $8,000 in 2010. Surat is known for diamonds, textiles, and for diamond-studded gold jewelry manufacturing. Surat registered a GDP of 11.5% for the seven fiscal years 2001-2008, the fastest growing GDP in India. The city accounts for:
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- 90% of the world’s total rough diamond cutting and polishing;
- 99.99% of the nation’s total rough diamond cutting and polishing;
- 90% of the nation’s total diamond exports;
- 40% of the nation’s total man made fabric production;
- 28% of the nation’s total man made fibre production;
- 18% of the nation’s total man made fibre export; and
- 12% of the nation’s total fabric production.
Transportation
Air
Surat Airport has direct air connectivity with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Airlines companies such as Spicejet Airlines and Air India operate flights from Surat.
Rail
Surat railway station is under the administrative control of the Mumbai Division, Western Railway zone of the Indian Railways. The erection of Surat Railway Station began in 1860.
Transport
Owing to heavy traffic congestion on major highways passing through Surat city, new expressways are planned and will be completed by 2013. Surat Municipal Corporation tries to improve road infrastructure of the city. The major highways passing through Surat are the Udhana-Mumbai Highway also known as Udhana-Navsari Highway, Surat -Ahmedabad Highway also known as Varachha Main Road. Due to rapid urbanisation and to get rid of fatal accidents Surat Municipal Corporation and Surat Urban Development Authority has planned to develop an Outer Ring Road and Middle Ring Road which are under construction to decongest the traffic from the major highways passing through city.
The city has seen the completion of road projects, particularly elevated roads. One of the very few multi-layer flyovers in India is now in Surat over Majura Gate. The Eastern expressway also known as Varachha Flyway is one of India's longest flyovers under city municipal limits in the four lane category. Surat Municipal Corporation has decided to construct one of the biggest structures in the state at a cost Rs 190 crore. A multi-level flyover bridge over Tapi river, it would connect Rander-Adajan to Katargam, which lies on the other side of the river.In addition to flyovers Surat is also getting its first cable stayed bridge connecting Adajan to Parle point near Athwalines.
The Golden Quadrilateral highway system passes through Surat. The city is connected to the National Highway 8 through a 16 km connector highway.
- Local transport
In August 2008, the CNG-fuelled SMSS bus service was opened by the city Mayor Dr. Kanubhai Mavani. Frequency of buses is sparse, making shared auto rickshaws a main mode of local travel.
The twin cities of Surat and Navsari will be connected by metro railway under this project. Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is confident of making the metro rail project a reality in the city by 2017-18.
Places of interest
Blues Adventures – Blues Adventures is a complete recreational and adventure project aimed to offer water-sports Activities, Amusement Park and Restaurants for the people of Surat (Surtis). The Blues Adventures is located at the basin of River Tapti (Tapi) on the Singanpore side of Weir-cum-Causeway in the city of Surat, India. Blues Adventures was inaugurated in January 2013 by the gracious hands of Hon. Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr. Narendra Modi.
The Chintamani Jain Temple – The exquisite wooden carvings and paintings are the major attractions of the temple. The temple, actively maintained and visited by the city's Jains, is situated in the Shahpor area and dates back to the 15th century. It houses some extremely rare paintings of the Jain monk Acharya Hemachandra, and of the Solanki King Kumarpal.
Dutch Garden – The ancient Dutch gardens, the Dutch cemetery and Makaipul, the ancient original port from where the ships sailed to other parts of the world are other attractions.
The Surat Fort – The Old Fort was built by Britishers in the 1616. It is now used for municipal offices.
The Sardar Patel Museum – Established in 1998, and originally called the Winchester Museum;, this museum has a collection of over 10,000 specimens of arts and crafts, now in the new Science Center campus on Citylight road.
Jawaharlal Nehru Garden – Colloquially known as Chowpaty, this is the largest and one of the oldest gardens in the city. It houses a musical fountain as well.
Dumas Beach is a beach located along the Arabian Sea around 21 km South west of the City centre.
Beaches – There are a number of beaches near Surat. Only 16 km away, Dumas Beach is a popular resort with locals. Suvali is 28 km from the city and Ubhrat is 42 km out, while Tithal is 108 km away and only five km from Valsad on the Mumbai to Vadodara railway line. Suvali has two wells with water rich in iron and sulphur. Suvali beach is fringed by feathery casuarina trees.
The Dutch Cemetery – Located near Kataragam Gate, this impressive mausoleum is that of Baron Hendrik Adriaan Van Rheede tot Drakenstein, who died in 1691. A massive dome, beautiful pillars and the huge gallery make it an outstanding monument.
Science Centre – Developed by the Surat Municipal Corporation in City Light area, Science Centre currently comprises a dedicated section for science exhibits, planetarium, art gallery and a museum dedicated to the history of Surat. It also has an auditorium with a seating capacity of 240 and an amphitheatre with seating capacity of 200.
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