Map of Suret- India

Surat, is a port city previously known as Suryapur. It is the economical capital and former princely state in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the eighth largest city and ninth largest urban agglomeration (after Pune) in India. Surat is the 3rd “cleanest city of India”, and 4th fastest growing city of the world. Surat is famous for its food, textile, and diamonds. Surat polishes over 90 percent of the world’s rough diamond.

It is the administrative capital of the Surat district. The city is located 284 kilometres (176 mi) south of the state capital, Gandhinagar; 265 kilometres (165 mi) south of Ahmedabad; and 289 kilometres (180 mi) north of Mumbai. The city centre is located 22 km (14 mi) south of the Tapti River. A moat divides the older parts of the city, with their narrow streets and historical houses, from the newer suburbs.

Surat had a population of 4.5 million at the 2011 census, making it the second largest city in the state of Gujarat, after Ahmedabad. It is the eighth largest city and ninth largest urban agglomeration of India. Surat is the 34th-largest city by area and 4th-fastest developing cities in a study conducted by the City Mayors Foundation, an international think tank on urban affairs. The city registered an annualised GDP growth rate of 11.5 per cent over the seven fiscal years between 2001 and 2008. Surat was awarded “best city” by the Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) in 2013. Surat is selected as the first smart IT city in India which is being constituted by the Microsoft CityNext Initiative tied up with IT services majors Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro.The city has 2.97 million internet users which is about 65{38100224121a309497ff62525d2e8cdd8a60bc6d4141b444ac0b7be8402b143d} of total population. Surat was selected in 2015 for an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant. Surat has been selected as one of twenty Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under PM Narendra Modi’s flagship Smart Cities Mission.

Population: 4.5 million (2011)

Language:

• Official languages             Gujarati
• Spoken languages           Gujarati, Hindi, English

Currency

The Indian rupee (sign: ₹; code: INR), is the official currency of the Republic of India. The rupee is subdivided into 100 paise (singular paisa), though as of 2011, 25 paise is no more a legal tender. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India.

Geography

Surat is a port city situated on the banks of the Tapi river. Damming of the Tapi 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. 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.

Climate

Surat has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw), moderated strongly by the Sea to the Gulf of Cambay. The summer begins in early March and lasts till June. April and May are the hottest months, the average maximum temperature being 37 °C (99 °F). Monsoon begins in late June and the city receives about 1,200 millimetres (47 in) of rain by the end of September, with the average maximum being 32 °C (90 °F) during those months. October and November see the retreat of the monsoon and a return of high temperatures till late November. Winter starts in December and ends in late February, with average mean temperatures of around 23 °C (73 °F), and negligible rain.

Transport

Air

Surat Airport has direct air connectivity with Delhi and Mumbai. Airlines companies such as Air India operate daily 2 flights per day from Surat to Delhi and one flight from Surat to Mumbai. SpiceJet resumes daily flights on Surat Delhi route starting from March 26, 2017.

It is expected to commence on limited level of international flights from Surat Airport as soon as runway expansion up to 2905 meter is completed by May 2017. There private airlines such as SpiceJet, Vistara, AirAsia India and Zoom Airlines are willing to start services from the Surat Airport.

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. It was selected as the Cleanest Railway station by the Indian Railways in 2016. and it is also selected for smart railway stations for India. Important trains those Origin/Terminate here :

Flying Ranee

Bandra Terminus–Surat Intercity Express

12945/Surat – Mahuva SF Express

Puri-Surat Express

Water

Surat has a port near Magdalla with good facilities for industrial purposes.

Transport

Owing to heavy traffic congestion on major highways passing through Surat city, the BRTS (Bus rapid transit in Surat) system work has been completed in most of the area. 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 reduce 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 the 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 1.90 billion. 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

Surat City Bus – In August 2008, the CNG-fuelled 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.

BRTS – Bus Rapid Transit System has been completed in most areas of surat city and the work in some areas is still in progress. The first route for BRTS was started from 26 January 2014 on Udhana-Sachin route with AC buses.

Metro train – 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. In August 2012, plans for an intracity metro train service were approved by Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The plan includes the construction of underground and overground metro trains and monorails.