Surat: The bullet train station under construction in Surat for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is emerging as a catalyst for urban development in the city. In a record time of just eight months, ‘Town Planning Scheme No. 61’ has been awarded in the city, an official press release said.

With India’s first bullet train becoming a reality, Surat is entering a new phase of urban growth. The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL) is constructing the station with a special focus on developing the surrounding areas into well-planned, modern hubs through town planning schemes led by the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of Gujarat.

Senior Town Planner K.D. Patel said, “TP Scheme No. 61 (Kosmada–Chedchha–Oviyan) is more than just a planning document—it is a roadmap for inclusive, future-oriented development. A total of five town planning schemes are planned across an area of 909 hectares for the Bullet Train HSR Node, creating a strong foundation for the city’s economic zones, residential areas, and multimodal connectivity.”

The scheme has been approved under the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, 1976, with Patel appointed as Town Planning Officer to finalize the draft.

Patel noted that awarding TP Scheme No. 61 in just eight months marks a historic achievement. All legal procedures, including stakeholder consultations, hearings, temporary restructuring, and preparation of measurement sheets, have been completed. The scheme covers approximately 164 hectares, including 135 final plots, and incorporates a road network spanning over 3 lakh square meters to ensure seamless transport connectivity around the bullet train station.

“TP schemes for cities like Surat, connected to the bullet train, are not mere maps—they are living documents shaping citizens’ access to housing, facilities, and a prosperous future,” Patel added.

Planning of Five TP Schemes Covering Seven Villages for Surat High-Speed Rail Node

For the planned infrastructure development around the Surat High-Speed Rail node, a total of five Town Planning (TP) schemes are being prepared, covering seven villages of Surat district, including Kosmada, Chedchha, Antroli, Sabargam, Oviyan, Niyol, and Vankaneda.

As part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project, 12 stations are being planned—eight in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra. To make Surat globally competitive and future-ready, the Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA), in coordination with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), has planned structural development of the High-Speed Rail (HSR) node area across an estimated 909 hectares.

The five TP schemes aim to ensure organized infrastructure development around the bullet train station, integrating modern urban planning principles and promoting systematic growth in the surrounding villages. DeshGujarat