SMC's new HQ to be built on sub-jail land

SURAT: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has got in-principle approval from the state government to construct its new headquarters on 22,100 square meters of old sub-jail land on the Ring Road here. The SMC would give the state government a plot of land of same area at some other place in the city in exchange for the old sub-jail land. The stone laying ceremony for the building will take place on May 15.At present, the SMC headquarters at Mugalsari is housed in a 162-year old building constructed on 5,336 square meters of land.
The approval came after chief minister Anandiben Patel chaired a meeting in Gandhinagar on Saturday. It was attended by officials of various government departments, Surat mayor Niranjan Janjmera and Surat municipal commissioner Milind Torwane.
"SMC would have to pay 25 per cent of Jantri rate to the state government for the plot of land," Torawane said.
Mayor Niranjan Janjmera said, "At least 2,500 people visit SMC headquarters daily. Over 3,000 employees work at the municipal headquarters. We wanted space on Ring Road for eveyone's convenience."
The SMC had asked for this piece of land five years ago, but the state government was not too keen to part with it. "The land would be transferred in SMC's name shortly," said Janjmera..