History | About Surat
The city of Surat has glorious history that dates back to 300 BC. The origin of the city can be traced to the old Hindu town of Suryapur during 1500 – 1520 A.D., which was later colonised by the Brigus or the King from Sauvira on the banks of River Tapi. In 1759, The British rulers took its control from the Mughals till the beginning of the 20th century. The city is located on the River Tapi and has about 6 km long coastal belt along the Arabian Sea. Due to these reasons, the city emerged as an important trade centre and enjoyed prosperity through sea trade in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Surat became the most important trade link between India and many other countries and was at the height of prosperity till the rise of Bombay port in the 17th and 18th centuries. Surat was also a flourishing centre for ship building activities. The whole coast of Tapi from Athwalines to Dumas was specially meant for ship builders who were usually Rassis. After the rise of the port at Bombay, Surat faced a severe blow and its ship building industry also declined. During the post-independence period, Surat has experienced considerable growth in industrial activities (especially textiles) along with trading activities. Concentration of these activities combined with residential developments has resulted in considerable expansion of the city limits.
| YEAR | EVENTS |
|---|---|
| 1612 | The British established the KOTHI a centre for trade and commerce. |
| 1614 | Sir Tomas Row visited Surat and obtained the rights for trade for the East India Company by meeting Badsah Jahangir. |
| 1664 | Shivaji invaded Surat for the first time. |
| 1800 | The Britishers subjugated the entire Surat during the rule of Nasiruddin. |
| 1825 | The Dutch people came to Surat. |
| 1826 | The Government started Gujarati Schools in the City. |
| 1842 | The First English School started in the City. |
| 1847 | The Portuguese closed their Centres for Trade (KOTHIS) in Surat. |
| 1850 | The Government enacted an Act for the development of the city, according to which, the Govt. was empowered to open a Department related to Municipality, on the request of the eminent citizens to effectuate the said Act. The Govt. appointed a committee called ‘The Municipal Committee’, which consisted of its officers and the eminent citizens to run the said Department. And a provision was made in the Act to administer the city Municipality. |
| 1850 | Surat Literary Society established its first Printing Press. |
| 1850 | The Andrews Library opened on 1 -7-1850. |
| 1852 | The Municipality came into existence, legally, and its first meeting was held on 15-8-1852. |
| 1852 | The First School for Girls established in the city under the name of “Raichand Deepchand Primary School for Girls” in Gopipura. |
| 1855 | The Primary School administration assigned to the Municipality. |
| 1857 | Beginning of Telegraph Communication. |
| 1860 | Erection of Surat Railway Station. |
| 1863 | ‘Surat-Mitra’, a local newspaper started by Dinshah Ardeshar Taliyarkhan, which was re-named as ‘Gujarat-Mitra’ on 11-9-1864. |
| 1865 | A survey of the city was conducted. The road connecting Chowk Bazar and Station was constructed. |
| 1867 | Municipality’s Office was shifted to its existing building. |
| 1870 | A Clock Tower was erected on the Station Road. A bridge along with sluice gate was constructed over Makkai Pool for Protection against floods. |
| 1870 | Rani Baug (presently – Gandhibaug) inaugurated by the Municipality. |
| 1871 | Registration of death and birth was introduced by the Municipality. |
| 1877 | Inauguration of Hope Pool. |
| 1883-84 | Saturday Bazar commenced in Killa Maidan. Election procedure was introduced for the first time in the Municipality and hence 12 members from 12 wards were elected. |
| 1890 | Winchester Museum was kept open on 1.2.1890 for general public. |
| 1898 | Water supply began through Municipal Water Works (1 -1 -1898). |
| 1898-99 | Water taps were connected in the city. |
| 1899 | Varachha Water Works entrusted to the Municipality. |
| 1901 | New Act of Municipality came into force. |
| 1909 | (1) The strength of elected members was raised by 2/3 of total strength. |
| (2) The Chief Officer was appointed as the administrator of the Municipality. | |
| 1920 | Free & compulsory education was introduced in the City from 1st April 1920. |
| 1921 | Mahatma Gandhiji was awarded a letter of Honour on 19th April 1921 |
| 1925 | Shri Vallabhbhai Patel (Celebrated as ‘Sardar’ after Bardoli Satyagrah in 1928) was awarded a letter of Honour on 24th October 1925. |
| 1934 | An act related to Adulteration was promulgated in the city from 1st March 1934. |
| 1936 | Vegetable Market constructed at Baranpuri Bhagal. |
| 1939 | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel unveiled the Oil-painting of Mahatma Gandhi in the Municipal Hall on 6th January 1939. |
| 1944 | The Municipality resolved that as long as the British Govt. is not prepared to make India free and continue its policy of repression the Municipal function be stopped (13-4-1944). |
| 1946 | The Municipality was re-established on 8th Feb. 1946. |
| 1950 | D.D.T. Spray programme undertaken to curb mosquitoes in the city (7-7-1950). |
| 1950 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President of India, unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi placed at Gandhi baug on 17th October 1950. |
| 1952 | Surat Railway Station (New) constructed. |
| 1955 | Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, inaugurated the Rang Upvan on 30th October 1955. |
| 1956 | Inauguration of S.V. Patel Museum by L;. Shastri on 6.5.1956. |
| 1965 | English was introduced in the education of girls in Raichand Deepchand school for girls at Gopipura. |
| 1966 | Conversion of Municipality into Municipal Corporation on 1 st October 1966. |
| 1980 | Inauguration of Gandhi Smruti Bhavan, the auditorium. (19-4-1980). |
| 1991 | Inauguration of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Bridge on 22-7-91 * Approx. cost Rs. 14.31 Crore. |
| 1991 | Inauguration of the Narmad Central Library on 24th August 1991. |
| 1995 | Inauguration of Weir-cum-Cause Way on 16-12-95. Approx. cost Rs.35 Crore. |
| 1995 | Commencement of Sewage Treatment Plant at Bhesan from 25-12-95. Approx. cost Rs.8 Crore |
| 1996 | Inauguration of Swami Vivekanand Bridge on 30-6-96. Approx. cost Rs.l 5 Crore. |
| 1997 | Inauguration of Water-distribution centre at Katargam on 27-6-97. |
| 1998 | Inauguration of Indoor Stadium on 18-12-98. |
| 2000 | Inauguration of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Fly Over Bridge (Textile Market, Ring Road) on 25-06-2000. Approx. cost Rs. 18 Crore. |
| 2001 | Inauguration of Olympic level swimming pool at Adajan on 06-05-2000. Approx. cost Rs. 1.5 Crore. |
| 2001 | Inauguration of bridge connecting Nana Varachha & Mota Varachha on 28-10-2001. Approx. cost Rs. 27 Crore. |
| 2001 | Inauguration of Sardar Smriti Bhavan (auditorium) at Varachha on 28-10-2001. Approx. cost Rs. 40 lacs. |
| 2002 | Inauguration of Water Distribution Station at Pandesara. |
| 2002 | Celebration of 150 years of existence of municipality. |
| 2002 | Handing over of “Panchayat Ghar” constructed by SMC at Kutchh-Bhuj. |
| 2002 | Commencement of Bamroli-Vadod Sewage Treatment Plant. |
| 2003 | Inauguration of Rander Intake Well on 31-01-2003. Approx. cost Rs. 31 Crore. |
| 2003 | Inauguration of Singanpor Sewage Treatment Plant on 31-01-2003. Approx cost Rs. 28 Crore. |
| 2003 | Opening of Sarthana Nature Park & Zoo spread over 81 acres of land on 26-04-2003. |
| 2003 | Inauguration of City Civic Center at following places:
|
| 2003 | Inauguration of Swimming pool near Terapanth Bhavan, Opp. South Zone Office on 31.08.2003. Approx cost Rs. 1.39 Crore. |
| 2004 | Opening of SMIMER hospital on 02.02.2004. Approx. cost Rs. 25.86 crore. |
| 2004 | Inauguration of Varachha Flyover Bridge on 02.02.2004. Approx cost Rs. 29.50 crore. |
| 2004 | Foundation stone laid for railway over bridge at Dindoli on 27.02.2004. Approx. cost 10.53 crore. |
| 2004 | Inauguration of Sewage Pumping Station and India’s first biogas based plant producing 0.50 MW electricity from sewage at Anjana Sewage Treatment Plant on 28-02-2004. Approx. cost Rs. 2.60 Crore. |
| 2004 | Inauguration of Janshakti Island at Majuragate on 01.05.2004. |
| 2004 | Inauguration of e-Library and Blind library on 01.05.2004. |
| 2004 | Water Harvesting system within the premises of municipal corporation started and Door-to-door Garbage Collection system started on 01.05.2004 |
| 2004 | City Gallery inaugurated 02.05.2004 |
| 2004 | Inauguration of Model center at Gandhismriti Bhavan on 02.05.2004. |
| 2004 | E-Payment system started on 15.10.2004. |
| 2004 | Inauguration of ramp connecting Varachha Fly Over bridge with Hirabaug Junction on 15.12.2004. Approx. cost Rs. 1.83 crore. |
| 2004 | Foundation stone laid for India’s first multi layer flyover bridge at Jay Prakash Narayan Road (Ring Road) on 19.12.2004. Approx. cost Rs. 25.32 crore. |
| 2004 | Work of converting main roads of the city using cement concrete started on 19.12.2004. Approx. cost Rs. 47.28 crore. |
| 2005 | e-Magazine started from 15.05.2005. |
| 2005 | On 31.07.2005, foundation stone laid for Sport Complex to be constructed opposite Amidhara Wadi, New Rander Road. Approx. cost Rs. 1.55 crore. |
| 2005 | Foundation stone laid for completely AC Science Centre, Museum, Art Gallery and Planetarium to be constructed near Maheshwari Bhavan, Citylite Road on 10.09.2005. Approx. cost Rs. 25.63 crore. |
| 2006 | On 31.03.2006, foundation stone laid for the bridge over river Tapi connnecting Dabholi and Jahangirpura. Approx. cost Rs. 65 crore. |
| 2006 | Key handing over ceremony of “Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Safai Kamdar Awas” held on 27.05.2006. |
| 2006 | Inauguration of bridge over Kankara Khadi, connecting Althan and Bamroli on 17.10.2006. Approx. cost Rs. 8 crore. |
| 2006 | Inauguration of road over bridge at Dindoli near Rail Way Culvert No. 436 on 17.10.2006 Approx. cost Rs. 9.75 crore. |
| 2007 | Inauguration of South East Zone Office Building on 12.02.2007. Approx. cost R. 2.15 crore. |
| 2007 | Foundation stone for the construction of new bridge over Tapi at Amroli laid on 10.03.2007. Approx cost Rs. 20.30 crore. |
| 2007 | Inauguration of Udhna Darwaja Junction (Ringroad) Fly Over Bridge on 10.03.2007. Approx cost Rs. 25.04 crore. |
| 2007 | Inauguration of Sarthana Water Treatment Plant and Under Ground Service Reservoir on 10.03.2007. Approx cost Rs. 24.22 lacs. |
| 2007 | The City Bus Service started from 27.08.2007 for general public. |
| 2007 | Inauguration of Fly Over Bridge from Kadiwala School to Subjail at Jayprakash Narayan Marg (Ringroad) on 10.09.2007. Approx cost Rs. 9.36 crore. |
| 2007 | Inauguration of Sewerage Treatment Plant at Anjana on 10.09.2007. Approx. cost Rs. 14.06 crore. |
| 2007 | Foundation stone laid on 24.09.2007 for the construction of flyover bridge near the junction near Kapodra Fire Station at Varachha Main Road. Approx. cost Rs. 10.73 crore. |
| 2008 | Inauguration of Nana Varachha Flyover Bridge on 23.03.2008. Approx cost Rs. 8.90 crore. |
| 2008 | Inauguration of Multilayer Flyover Bridge connecting Ikar Bhavan to Kadiwala Junction of Ring Road on 04.05.2008. Approx cost Rs. 8.75 crore. |
| 2008 | Foundation stone laid on 13.09.2008 for the construction of Multilayer Parking at Mahidharpura . |
| 2008 | Foundation stone laid on 12.12.2008 for the construction of Parle Point Flyover Bridge. Approx cost Rs. 59 crore. |
| 2008 | Inauguration of Butterfly Park at Sarthana Nature Park on 12.12.2008. Approx cost Rs. 1.48 crore. |
| 2008 | Alottment of EWS houses at Kosad on 21.02.2009. |
| 2009 | Inauguration of Multilayer Parking at Khan Sahebno Delo, Mahidharpura, Lal Darwaja on 28.09.2009. Approx. cost Rs. 4.66 lakh. |
| 2009 | Foundation stone laid on 02.10.2009 for the construction of new creek bridge in place of existing Bhedwad Khadi Bridge, South Zone. Approx cost Rs. 1.74 crore. |
| 2009 | Foundation stone laid on 05.10.2009 for the construction of 57 MLD Sewerage Pumping Station near Kosad EWS houses. Approx cost Rs. 24.60 crore. |
| 2009 | Foundation stone laid on 05.10.2009 for the construction of 37 MLD Sewerage Pumping Station near Utran Railway Station. |
| 2009 | Inauguration of 51 MLD Sewerage Pumping Station on 07.10.2009 at opp. Nandani Apartment, Abhva Road, Surat. Approx cost Rs. 12.37 crore. |
| 2009 | Inauguration of Kapodra Flyover Bridge on 11.11.2009. Approx. cost Rs. 9.32 crore. |
| 2009 | Foundation stone laid on 20.11.2009 for the construction of Late Shri Sanjeevkumar (Haribhai Jariwala) Auditorium at Pal. Approx cost Rs. 11.27 crore. |
| 2009 | Foundation stone laid on 20.11.2009 for the construction of Utrayan-Kapodra Bridge. Approx. cost. Rs. 72.17 crore. |
| 2009 | Inauguration of multilayer parking at Varachha zone on 20.11.2009. Approx cost. Rs. 4.52 crore. |
| 2009 | Inauguration of Wild Life Interpretation Center at Sarthana Nature Park on 29.11.2009. Approx cost. Rs. 34.74 lakh. |
| 2009 | Inauguration of Science Center, Museum, Art Gallery, Planetarium at City Light Road on 29.11.2009. Approx cost Rs. 44.24 crore. |
| 2009 | Foundation stone laid on 29.11.2009 for the BRTS project at Kharvarnagar. Approx. cost. Rs. 78.21 crore. |
| 2010 | Inauguration of creek bridge at Bamroli connecting Tulsidham and Jay Ambe Nagar on 25.01.2010. Approx. cost Rs. 1.95 crore. |
