The Times of India         16.09.2014

Varachha flyover set to generate gardens, income

SURAT: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) doesn't have a pay and park facility under the city's longest flyover. This, when the civic body earns Rs 4 crore annually from its 28 parking set-ups, a majority of which are under the bridges. The SMC officials are unable to explain this dichotomy and why it took them so long to realize the revenue potential of the 2.5-km-long Shreenathji flyover at Varachha.

"We have been losing Rs 2 crore on an annual basis for not having a pay and park facility under Shreenathji flyover. SMC has decided to develop the area under the bridge on a public private participation (PPP) basis. The private partner will operate and maintain the whole facility and sponsors will be allowed to develop the underground area in a phase-wise manner," a SMC officer said.

A detailed plan has been worked out for the beautification of Varachha flyover. It envisions development of 77 gardens, 34 parking slots, 13 road crossings and a number of fountains under the 100 spans of the bridge.

"The work would be outsourced and it will be the responsibility of the private partner to collect parking fees and to keep the area free from encroachments," city engineer Jatin Shah said.

Former deputy mayor Kumar Kanani, who is now BJP MLA from Varachha, said, "SMC should hand over the area for development to a private party."

The SMC plans to give the contract for the beautification project to a private party at the earliest. The private party would develop and maintain the project and share the revenue with the SMC, sources said.